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Thursday, Mar. 15 8:00pm ET
Bucks' lead in Central now below two games

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Seattle coach Nate McMillan offered simple advice to his SuperSonics at halftime of the game Thursday night.

"Coach told us at halftime that whichever team decided to play defense first would win the game," Seattle's Emanual Davis said.

Desmond Mason
Seattle won with its defense and hustle with Desmond Mason beating Darvin Ham, left, to this loose ball.

Seattle tightened its defense and capitalized on the absence of Milwaukee's Sam Cassell down the stretch, beating the Bucks 108-102.

Gary Payton scored 22 points to lead a balanced Seattle attack and Davis hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but it was the Sonics' rebounding and defense that was the difference.

Seattle outrebounded Milwaukee 25-20 in the second half, including 9-4 on the offensive end, and limited the Bucks to 19 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks' lead in the Central Division slipped to 1½ games.

Milwaukee was slowed by the absence of Cassell, who left the game with a strained hip flexor early in the fourth period. He played only three minutes in the quarter.

"The timing of the injury was bad with Sam," Bucks coach George Karl said.

Milwaukee has lost three of its past four and has been beaten on the glass in its last four games by an average of 50.7-35.7. The Bucks have allowed at least 100 points in six of their last eight games.

"They dictated the energy the whole second half, and it made it very difficult for our offense to overcome our deficiency," Karl said.

Seattle won its third consecutive game.

"We've been shooting well," McMillan said. "Davis knocked down some big shots. (Rashard) Lewis is healthy and did a good job on the boards and spotting up on the perimeter."

The Bucks closed to 86-85 early in the fourth quarter when Lewis, who scored 21 points, made a 3-pointer from the right wing. Davis hit his first 3-pointer of the quarter to make it 94-88, and added a second to give Seattle its largest lead of the game, 99-91, with 5:24 to go.

After Milwaukee closed to 101-97 with 1:51 left, Davis countered with his third 3-pointer.

"We weren't guarding, period," said Bucks guard Lindsey Hunter, who played nine minutes of the fourth quarter despite a deep thigh bruise.

Milwaukee was led by Glenn Robinson's 21 points. Tim Thomas and Cassell each scored 20, and Ray Allen had 18.

Game notes
Milwaukee coach George Karl, negotiating with Milwaukee for a contract extension, declined to discuss the negotiations or his $50,000 fine for derogatory comments directed at Seattle management. ... Listed day-to-day with a right thigh bruise, Milwaukee's Lindsey Hunter entered the game late in the first quarter and played 20 minutes... The Bucks announced that their Saturday game with Philadelphia was sold out. It is the Bucks' ninth sellout of the year, the most since 1994-95, when they sold out 13 games.

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RECAPS
LA Lakers 125
Detroit 119

New York 88
Toronto 72

Seattle 108
Milwaukee 102

Dallas 103
Minnesota 83

Houston 108
New Jersey 106

Boston 105
Phoenix 101


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