Milkwaukee bucks trend, tops Heat
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, February 3, 2012
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Miami Heat's Lebron James (left) puts up a shot against Milwaukee Bucks' Drew Gooden (right) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 in Milwaukee. |
Milwaukee continued to relish the role of a giant-killer when a storming second-half performance led the Bucks to a 105-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Milwaukee survived a 40-point barrage from LeBron James and overcame a 17-point first-half deficit by exploding in the final two quarters to win its third straight in a streak that also includes a triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bucks (10-11) also defeated the Heat on January 22 in what had been Miami's only loss in nine games going into Wednesday's contest.
This time, Milwaukee ate into Miami's advantage with a 13-2 run to start the third quarter before kicking into a higher gear at the start of the next by outscoring the visitors 22-3 en route to a 98-82 lead in the blink of an eye.
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: 76ers 98, Bulls 82; Thunder 95, Mavericks 86; Spurs 99, Rockets 91; Pacers 109, Timberwolves 99; Clippers 107, Jazz 105; Celtics 100, Raptors 64; Magic 109, Wizards 103; Trail Blazers 112, Bobcats 68; Nets 99, Pistons 96; and Suns 120, Hornets 103.
In Milwaukee, the Heat could get no closer than nine in the fourth before a 3-pointer at the buzzer settled the final score. Dwyane Wade finished with 23 points but the visitors were undone by a lack of teamwork as the pressure mounted in the final quarter.
"We're trying to find a balance where we can take advantage of our guys' strengths of ability to attack and ability to break down the defense," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. "At the same time, we have to do it collectively, and the ball has to move."
Brandon Jennings sparked the Bucks with 31 points, including seven 3-pointers, while Drew Gooden added 17 and nine rebounds.
James poured in 24 first-quarter points to stake Miami (16-6) to a 40-23 lead at the first interval before the Bucks hauled themselves back to end the Heat's five-game winning streak.
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