The Milwaukee Bucks snapped a four game NBA losing streak by
fending off the Orlando magic to grab a 100-86 victory on Wednesday
at the Bradley Center.
Milwaukee Bucks' Yi
Jianlian performs during their NBA basketball game on
Wednesday.
Michael Redd was near triple double, with 27 points, 9 rebounds
and 10 assists. Chinese rookie Yi Jianlian added 18 points. Mo
Williams had 17 points and 7 assists for the Bucks (9-12).
The Magic (16-7) were led by all everything center Dwight
Howard, who was relatively quite with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Free agent pick up Rashard Lewis also had 20 for the Magic.
Milwaukee had lost 8 of 9 games prior to coming in to tonight's
affair at the Bradley Center. During their losing ways the Bucks
allowed opponents over 50% FG shooting four times and three others
over 47%.
The Bucks held the Magic to 33.8% shooting. On offense the Bucks
shared the ball, and when times were bad, they looked inside and
ran through center Andrew Bogut who ended up with 11 points and 9
rebounds.
Rookie Yi JianLian, Milwaukee's 6th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft,
had perhaps his best game of the year as he tallied 18 points on
7/11 from the field and 4/4 from the FT line in 34 minutes of
action. He also snared 7 rebounds and seemed to be getting quicker
to the basket in close quarters. He was decisive and went up
strong, maybe because he knew CBA director Li Yuanwei and general
manager of Hong Yuan Club Chen Haitao were in the stands.
Two great basketball minds from China were visiting Milwaukee to
check on Yi's progress among other things.
Another good team follows as the Boston Celtics and their new
Big Three play host this Friday night in Boston. Yi will get his
first look at Kevin Garnette, who was similar to Yi in build at
Yi's age.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2007)