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Tuesday, Jan. 9 8:00pm ET
Howard keeps Wizards close

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Forget the usual platitudes about the opponent playing well. Ray Allen tells it like it is.

"It's not that Washington played hard tonight," Allen said after the Milwaukee Bucks edged the injury-depleted Wizards 99-95 Tuesday night. "We won the game because we're the better team."

But it very nearly turned into another debacle for the inconsistent Bucks.

Milwaukee, coming off a disheartening loss at Vancouver on Sunday, took a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter before holding off the pesky Wizards, who got within a point three times.

"We could have been in here with a loss," Allen said.

Sam Cassell scored 23 points and Glenn Robinson added 19 as the Bucks snapped their two-game losing streak and won at the Bradley Center for the seventh straight time.

The Wizards lost their fourth in a row despite 25 points and 10 rebounds from Juwan Howard, whose two free throws made it 97-95 with 12.7 seconds left.

Allen, who, along with Lindsey Hunter, added 17 for Milwaukee, sank two foul shots with 8.2 seconds left, and Washington's Richard Hamilton missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds.

"We stepped it up on the defensive end and came back," said Chris Whitney, who had 19 points and 10 assists for the Wizards. "We never folded, but they are a good team that made shots when they had to."

Especially Robinson, who swished two baskets and two free throws late in the fourth quarter to help hold off Washington's upset bid.

"Robinson hit some big shots," Wizards coach Leonard Hamilton said. "They have several players who can hit big shots. They are a good offensive team. We didn't get a chance to take any possessions away down the stretch."

The Wizards can only wish they had as many options.

With three starters out with injuries (Jahidi White, Rod Strickland and Mitch Richmond), Howard has picked up the scoring load for Washington, averaging 23.2 points in his last seven games.

"I'm happy that we're winning," Bucks coach George Karl said. "But I think we're fortunate as much as we're playing well. We're fortunate we're playing teams that maybe don't have the firepower to beat us.

"We're inconsistent. One night we don't pass it. The next night we don't defend. The next night we don't run back. The next night we don't shoot," Karl said. "We're just not playing with a lot of demand to be special. But maybe I'm just overreacting."

Game notes
Howard got whistled for a technical just 34 seconds into the game. ... Bucks coach George Karl said it was a shame that Robinson didn't even rank in the top 10 Eastern Conference forwards in voting for the All-Star Game. Karl said Robinson is having his best all-around season, especially passing the ball, and that there's no small forward in the league who's playing better. ... Strickland hasn't played in nearly two weeks because of an injured shoulder and a clash with management over his work habits. ... Milwaukee forward Darvin Ham had the cast removed from his left foot, which he broke on Nov. 10. He needs 5-to-6 weeks of rehab.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Washington Clubhouse

Milwaukee Clubhouse

RECAPS
Charlotte 102
Chicago 95

Houston 110
Toronto 91

Seattle 95
Atlanta 86

Philadelphia 104
New Jersey 87

Milwaukee 99
Washington 95

San Antonio 112
Orlando 95

Utah 103
Indiana 99

Denver 112
Vancouver 105

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

George Karl Official Site

Juwan Howard Official Site


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