Milwaukee -- The New Jersey Nets made six of eight three-point shots in the fourth quarter in a comeback win over the Milwaukee Bucks 99-95 on Tuesday night at the Bradley Center.
With the loss, Milwaukee’s lead on the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race is down to one-half game over the Nets, and remains one game over the Chicago Bulls, who lost in Charlotte.
The Bucks led the entire way until Devin Harris’ steal and fast break lay-up early in the fourth quarter put the Nets ahead for the first time all night.
Milwaukee responded by forcing three consecutive turnovers and going on a 12-3 scoring run, reclaiming an eight point lead with less than five minutes remaining.
But New Jersey bounced back, making four shots from beyond the arc over the next two minutes, giving the Nets a four point lead.
Milwaukee came back to tie the game at 90-90, but another three-point shot by Jarvis Hayes with 18 seconds left was enough to seal the victory for the Nets.
“We didn’t execute at all in the fourth quarter,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said after the game. “Our defense kept us in there and we were hustling, but we just had trouble making the right plays in the fourth quarter.”
Richard Jefferson, who was traded to Milwaukee after playing his first seven seasons with New Jersey, knows the Nets offense well.
“The way they play, they spread the ball with pick and rolls with Devin (Harris) and Vince (Carter) and they shoot three’s,” Jefferson said. “That is how they play. They live and die by it. The first 40 minutes of the game we did a good job of it. The last eight minutes they were able to knock down a couple (three point shots).”
The Bucks struggled offensively, shooting under 39 percent for the game, but were able to out-rebound New Jersey 52-42.
Charlie Villanueva had a game-high 15 rebounds, and also led Milwaukee with 24 points.
Richard Jefferson shot 4-18 from the floor against his former team, but made all 12 of his free throw attempts, finishing with 20 points. He also added six assists and five rebounds.
Milwaukee native and former Wisconsin Badgers standout Devin Harris struggled throughout most of the game for New Jersey, shooting 3-14 from the field, but knocked down four clutch free throws in the final seconds to finish with 14 points and 11 assists.
Harris, who was named Wisconsin’s “Mr. Basketball” in 2001 during his senior year at Wauwatosa East High School, left the game in the first quarter and headed for the locker room.
“I was out of breath all night and that’s not normal for me,” Harris said. “I can’t put my finger on why…I don’t know if it’s asthma-related. I barely use my inhaler, but I used it quite a lot tonight. I felt like I couldn’t get air. I’m gonna get checked out tomorrow and see what happens.”
After not being able to play in New Jersey’s previous trip to Milwaukee earlier this season due to a hamstring injury, Harris returned from the locker room and re-entered the game in the second quarter.
“Coming home is extra special; playing against the hometown team, seeing family and friends,” Harris said. “I got to see a lot of familiar faces…a lot of Badger fans.”
The Bucks first-round pick in 2007, Yi Jianlian, who was traded to New Jersey this past off-season in the deal that brought Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee, was greeted largely by boo’s from the crowd when he was introduced. Yi, who came to the National Basketball Assocation directly from China, made it clear prior to the 2007 NBA Draft that he preferred not to play in Milwaukee. He scored four points and blocked three shots in 16 minutes for the Nets, and didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee travels to Cleveland for a game Wednesday night against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, followed by a Friday night game in Chicago. The Bucks then return home to face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night at the Bradley Center to begin a season-long six-game home stand.
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