ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses






Tuesday, Feb. 6 8:00pm ET
Bucks win ninth game in last 10

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Ray Allen's heart sank as Sacramento's sharpshooter pulled up for a wide-open 3-pointer at the buzzer that would erase the final scraps of Milwaukee's 16-point fourth-quarter lead.

Glenn Robinson
Glenn Robinson swats a shot attempt by Sacramento center Vlade Divac in the Bucks' victory.

"Overtime," was all Allen could fathom as Predrag Stojakovic released the ball and a hush swept through the Bradley Center.

But Stojakovic's shot stayed left and Milwaukee held off the Kings 112-109 in a freewheeling, fire-'em-up game between division leaders Tuesday night.

"I think he was surprised how wide open he was," a relieved Allen said.

Kings coach Rick Adelman slammed his fist on the sideline table three times before walking off the court dejected.

"You can't play from behind on the road against a good team and expect to win," he said.

But oh, how close the Kings had come.

"We didn't make stops. We thought we had the game under control," Bucks coach George Karl said. "And we were fortunate. I mean, that last shot could have gone in and broken our hearts.

"I don't know if we could have won in overtime."

Especially with Chris Webber doing his thing.

Webber, who missed the shootaround with a stomach virus, had 39 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Kings, whose loss put idle Portland atop the Pacific Division.

"We made a valiant effort," said Webber, who scored seven points in the final 35 seconds.

"He's a hell of a player and had a hell of a night," Karl said. "But I thought we still had control of winning the game."

But the Bucks made a slew of uncharacteristic turnovers in the fourth quarter and missed 5-of-8 free throws in the final 23 seconds, including one by Glenn Robinson that would have iced it with 4.9 seconds left.

The Central Division-leading Bucks got 29 points from Sam Cassell and 28 from Allen. Milwaukee led almost the entire game, trailing just once, at 36-35.

The Bucks led 93-77 on Lindsey Hunter's jumper to start the fourth quarter but they didn't have the victory in hand until Stojakovic missed at the buzzer.

"I knew they weren't going to lay down, not on national TV," Allen said.

Milwaukee, which improved to an Eastern Conference-best 19-6 at home and 7-9 against the West, appeared to have the game in hand after Cassell and Scott Williams had key offensive rebounds that allowed the Bucks to burn nearly a minute off the clock at the end.

Williams went to the line and made one of two for a 107-100 lead with 38.2 seconds left. Webber's 3-pointer made it 109-105 with 24 seconds left and Stojakovic's fastbreak layup made it 110-107 with 10 seconds left.

Stojakovic finished with 23 points.

Only Sacramento, averaging 100.9 points, is scoring at a higher rate than the Bucks, who are ringing it up at 100.3 points.

Cassell and Webber kept up the frenetic pace in the first half. Thanks to Cassell's 21 points in 19 minutes, the Bucks led 59-51 at halftime. Webber had 18 points in 18 minutes before halftime.

"For about 46 minutes, I thought we played a very good basketball game," Karl said. "We missed five free throws in the last 23 seconds. That's not going to help you much."

But an errant 3-pointer by Stojakovic did.

Game notes
Allen strained his right ring finger in the first quarter but the injury didn't keep him out of action. ... Bucks coach George Karl said he expects to agree to a new two-year contract extension soon. ... Karl is one victory shy of his 100th with Milwaukee. ... Both teams shot 22-for-45 from the floor in the first half, but the Kings were whistled for 15 fouls to Milwaukee's six. ... Hedo Turkoglu played despite a sprained left ankle.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Sacramento Clubhouse

Milwaukee Clubhouse


RECAPS
Orlando 109
Charlotte 83

Detroit 94
Denver 83

New Jersey 90
Atlanta 84

Miami 102
Indiana 89

Milwaukee 112
Sacramento 109

Phoenix 97
Chicago 80

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Ray Allen steps in front of a pass and goes the other way for the jam.
avi: 578 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Chris Webber fills the lane with a one-handed jam.
avi: 592 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

audio
 Sam Cassell and Ray Allen discuss the Bucks victory.
wav: 176 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

George Karl Official Site


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.