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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND – Andre Miller stays after practice working on
his 15-foot jumper. And as it turns out, on his 50-, 60-, and
70-footers, too.
Miller had 19 points, 13 assists and an amazing 75-foot
3-pointer Sunday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a
seven-game losing streak with a 124-110 victory over the Milwaukee
Bucks.
Miller made a conventional 3-point play to cap an 11-0 run as
the Cavs opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 breakaway and led
107-89 with 8:02 remaining.
But it was Miller's bomb from near the opposite free-throw line
late in the third quarter -- after Milwaukee scored 10 straight to
pull within 81-80 -- that sent the Cavs to just their third win in
22 games.
"That was luck," Miller said. "It felt like a curveball
coming off my hand."
With the shot clock running down, Miller raced into the
backcourt to retrieve a loose ball. After catching up to it, Miller
only had time to turn and fling the ball toward the basket and
dropped an improbable 3-pointer.
"We work on that every day," Cleveland coach Randy Wittman.
"Andre and some of the guys stay around and have a little game
after practice trying those kind of shots. Andre's pretty good at
it."
"One in a million," Bucks coach George Karl said.
Miller said his percentage from behind halfcourt isn't so hot,
but he could sense the lift his shot gave his teammates.
"We fed off it," he said. "And right now, we could use just
about anything to get us going."
Wes Person, making his second start of the season, went 5-for-7
on 3s and added a season-high 24 points for the Cavs, who for the
first time in months looked like the same team that surprised the
league with a 15-7 start.
Matt Harpring added 16 points, Clarence Weatherspoon had 15 points and
12 rebounds as seven Cavs scored in double figures. Cleveland's
season-high points total helped it snap a six-game losing streak
against Milwaukee.
The Cavs also had 35 assists and made 30 of 34 free throws.
"That's as good as we've passed the ball all year," Wittman
said. "We didn't get ourselves into trouble by trying to do too
much. That was fun to see."
Glenn Robinson scored 32 points and Ray Allen 29 to lead the
Bucks. Sam Cassell added 20 points and 13 rebounds, but he and
Allen only shot a combined 13-for-39 from the floor.
Jason Caffey's basket brought the Bucks within 96-89 early in
the fourth period before the Cavs put together their decisive run
with some crisp passing, offensive rebounds and perhaps their best
two-minute stretch of the season.
Chris Gatling made two jumpers in the run and Jim Jackson made
two free throws before Allen slammed a dunk attempt off the rim
that ricocheted toward halfcourt.
Miller grabbed it and won a foot race with Cassell to the other
end and hit his layup before crashing into a cameraman under the
basket. Miller's free throw then put the Cavs up by 18, and the
Bucks only got as close as 11 the rest of the way.
"Every time they tried to make a push we answered it," Wittman
said.
Allen made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points in the third
quarter, including eight in a 10-0 run, that brought the Bucks
within 81-80 before Miller's stunning shot.
"It didn't take the wind out of us, but it brought the crowd
back into play," said Karl. "We had them on their heels and he
throws in a one-in-a-million-type shot. That's part of the game.
There's nothing you can do."
Game notes
Bucks coach George Karl said he's in no hurry to sign the
reported two-year, $14 million extension that also includes a 1
percent ownership in the club, a deal estimated at $125 million in
value. "It's a great offer," Karl said. "But the most important
thing is to win basketball games, not to sign a contract. Next week
I'll take look at it." ... It was the first time the Cavs have scored
more than 120 points since Dec. 11, 1999, a 127-116 win vs.
Atlanta.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 86
Miami 83
Philadelphia 97
Boston 91
Toronto 101
Vancouver 84
Sacramento 105
Utah 90
Detroit 95
Indiana 78
Cleveland 124
Milwaukee 110
Phoenix 94
Houston 92
Dallas 111
LA Clippers 93
Seattle 109
LA Lakers 97
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