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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee Bucks hadn't had this much to
celebrate in 15 years, and they acted like it.
|  | | Ray Allen delivers a sure basket in the second quarter. |
After beating the Utah Jazz 115-93 behind Ray Allen's
career-high 43 points Thursday night, the newly crowned Central
Division champs doused coach George Karl with a bucket of ice water
as streamers and confetti fluttered from the Bradley Center
rafters.
Tim Thomas, who didn't dress because of a shoulder injury,
served as the decoy. But he took a tumble trying to get away from
the deluge, much to the delight of his teammates.
"The best part of it all was when Tim fell. He was trying to
get out of the way and his boots slid on the floor," Allen said.
"And then he busted his face on the court. It was so funny. I
wasn't watching George, I was watching Tim."
Thomas was only red-faced, so he wasn't the party pooper.
Allen's previous career high was 42 points on Feb. 26 in a
victory at Philadelphia. He scored half of his team's points in the
first half, which ended with the Bucks leading 60-34.
"That half was the best half of basketball I've ever had,"
Allen said. "There were a lot of times when I was going to pass,
but they gave me an easy shot, so I took it.
"That's what a shooter loves, is when they won't even put a
hand in your face. And that was the key to the game. Nobody forced
any shots."
Allen left after hitting a 3-pointer with just under two minutes
left. It was his team record-tying eighth 3-pointer, matching a
mark set by Thomas earlier this season against Portland.
He had just missed two 3-pointers, both of which rattled out.
"I was going to give it that last shot, but if I didn't make
it, I was going to tell George to take me out," Allen said.
"Forty points is more than any one player could ever want."
Utah coach Jerry Sloan said the Bucks "played enthusiastically
and had fun out there. We played like our feelings were hurt."
"They had a guy score 43 points and we just let him keep
scoring all night," Sloan said. "My guys could have at least
fouled him or something."
The Bucks (50-29), who clinched their first division
championship since 1985-86 by virtue of Toronto's loss at Detroit
on Wednesday night, secured their first 50-victory season since
1986-87 and improved to 30-10 at home, a mark they last achieved in
1988-89.
"Everybody feels real good," team owner Herb Kohl said. "But
we all realize we'll define ourselves over the next month or two."
The Bucks, who are trying to fend off Miami and New York for the
second-best record in the East behind the 76ers, jumped to a
34-16 lead after one quarter behind Allen's 18 points.
They led by as many as 28 in improving to 8-0 against the top
four teams in the much-ballyhooed West: San Antonio, Sacramento,
Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Utah is a legitimate, legitimate basketball team," Allen
said. "We sent a message tonight to the whole league that we can
beat the best teams in the NBA. ... That's the sign of a great team
is when you can outwork some of the best teams in the league."
Sloan wasn't so sure the Jazz should be considered such good
competition, at least not on this night.
"I don't know if we gave a real effort tonight," Sloan said.
"They're quick and we're not. They ran and we didn't defend. ..."
We just need to execute and play like we want to win."
"It's real disheartening to come out and play this way," Karl
Malone said. "We got our tails beat tonight. We talk about things
in the huddle and then we go out on the floor and execute
nothing."
Allen's second basket of the second quarter was a beauty. He
drove the right baseline and leaped for a cocked, one-handed dunk
reminiscent of Michael Jordan that made it 46-26.
"I tried to contain him tonight," guard Bryon Russell said.
"He got really hot in the first half and everything was going in.
In the second half, I thought we did a much better job of
containing him. But it was too late."
Game notes
Donyell Marshall and Danny Manning each scored 14 for Utah.
... Allen has had four games of 40 or more points in his four-year
NBA career. ... Bucks forward Darvin Ham sprained his right thumb in the
closing seconds of the first half but played in the fourth quarter.
... Karl said he doubted Thomas (shoulder) would play again until
the playoffs. Thomas's right shoulder popped out of its socket
Tuesday night in a game against Chicago.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 88
New Jersey 78
Milwaukee 115
Utah 93
Orlando 101
Philadelphia 77
Sacramento 107
San Antonio 105
Portland 100
Vancouver 87
LA Lakers 119
Minnesota 102
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