Charlie Villanueva had a double-double scoring 21 points,
grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists, and Michael Redd
had 19 points and 7 assists, but it wasn't enough as the hosts
Denver Nuggets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks for the second time in
eight days, 114-102.
Rookie power forward Yi Jianlian from China started again on
Tuesday for Milwaukee, playing 24 minutes and scoring 12 points and
nabbing 3 rebounds. Yi shot 4/6 from the field and hit free throws.
Yi also hit his only three-point shot of the night.
The fire works started taking off in the second quarter as the
two teams combined for 71 points in the second quarter prior to
intermission.
In the third quarter things got ugly. Bucks head coach Larry
Kryskowiak disputed a call against point guard Mo Williams,
resulting in a technical foul. Soon afterward Bucks' Desmond Mason
got in on the act and was called for a technical as well. By then a
ticked off Mo Williams began complaining louder, costing the team
two more technicals, leading to the ejection of Williams from the
game, and the Bucks without their starting point guard with a
quarter (plus) to go.
In all, four technicals were called and Allen Iverson made 5/6
of the free throws.
At the 6:39 mark of the fourth quarter the Bucks trailed 93-92,
and had three chances to take the lead but were unable to because
of Desmond Mason's missed free throw's and a Charlie V missed 3
point shot.
The Bucks are still a work in progress, particularly
defensively. The Nuggets maintained over 50% shooting throughout
the entire game, until the very end, finishing 36/74 (48.6%).
On one play in particular, Yi and Martin scrambled for the ball,
and an inadvertent elbow from Yi hit Martin on top of his head,
forcing him (Martin) to leave the game before returning a few
minutes later.
Milwaukee also got a scare when center Bogut hurt his wrist mid
way through the third quarter. X-Rays were good, so he is listed
day to day and should be ready for the season opener.
The Bucks will continue their preseason schedule by playing Ben
Wallace and the Chicago Bulls at Chicago on the Thursday Oct. 25,
before concluding the preseason on Friday, Oct. 26 at the Minnesota
Timberwolves.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)