Bobcats 96, Bucks 72
MILWAUKEE - Five Bobcats scored in double figures as Charlotte rolled to a 96-72 victory over the Bucks Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Center Al Jefferson led Charlotte with 19 points on 8 of 15 shooting, pacing a Bobcats offense that shot just under 50 percent from the field.
Guard Gerald Henderson added 17 points while forward Josh McRoberts had 12 with nine rebounds. Guard Ramon Sessions had 13 off the bench and guard Kemba Walker scored 11 for Charlotte, which had lost three of its last four.
Jefferson also finished with seven rebounds as the Bobcats were dominant on the boards, holding a 52-36 advantage which included 10 from forward Jeff Adrien.
Both McRoberts and Henderson hit double digits in the first half as the Bobcats went ahead by as many as 12 and led 46-39 at the break.
After scoring 107 points Friday night in an overtime loss at Philadelphia, the Bucks offense was as cold as the Milwaukee wind chill, especially in the second half.
The Bucks went 1-for-12 to open the third quarter, falling behind by 23 when Gerald Henderson's fast break layup made it 70-47 with 3:17 to play. In all, the Bucks were just 4 of 19 from the field and trailed, 74-51, heading into the fourth. They shot 35 percent for the game and were 5 of 18 from beyond the arc.
Forward Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 20 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and making both of his 3-point attempts. Forward John Henson was the only other Milwaukee player to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The loss was Milwaukee's eighth in a row, the Bucks' longest since closing the 2007-08 season with an eight-game losing streak.
NOTES: Point guard Brandon Knight returned to the Bucks for the first time in five games. Knight, projected to be Milwaukee?s starter had played a total of 40 minutes this season due to a hamstring injury suffered opening night at New York. ? Knight?s return gave head coach Larry Drew his most complete lineup in weeks. Only Larry Sanders, recovering from a right thumb injury, and Carlos Delfino, out for the season due to a right foot injury, remain unavailable. ? The Bobcats got Al Jefferson back for the first time in four games but head coach. Head coach Steve Clifford said he will ease Jefferson back into the rotation. ?He?s not able to play his normal minutes,? Clifford said. ?We?ve been playing without him for the majority of pre-season and most of the first 12 games, so it?s going to take some time.?
