Milwaukee – The Milwaukee Bucks bounced back after consecutive home losses this week to defeat the Denver Nuggets 120-117 Sunday at the Bradley Center.
The Bucks' win helps the team increase its lead to 1.5 games for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot, as the ninth place Chicago Bulls lost at Indiana earlier in the day.
Charlie Villanueva scored a season-high 36 points, shooting 7 of 11 from three point range, including a shot from beyond half court to close out the first quarter.
“The defense gave me a lot of good looks in the first quarter, and once I hit that half-court shot, I knew I was on fire,” Villanueva said after the game.
Ramon Sessions got off to a strong start and took control of the game early, outscoring the Nuggets by himself over the first 4:40 to start the game. Villanueva and Sessions combined to score 23 of the Bucks first 31 points.
Sessions finished with 27 points, shooting 13 of 15 from the free throw line, and also led the game with eight assists.
“Charlie (Villanueva) and Ramon (Sessions) carried the offensive load for us,” Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. “Those two guys made the big offensive plays when we needed to have them.”
Milwaukee scored 69 points in the first half, tying its season high, but team members acknowledged that they’ll need to step up on the defensive end in order to win more games.
“We were scoring baskets,” Sessions said. “That’s (the Nuggets) kind of game so we were lucky tonight. We have to come out better next game and defend. Giving up 117, it’s tough to win.”
With the Bucks traveling to Dallas on Wednesday, Villanueva said the thrill of the win will have to be short-lived.
“We have to enjoy this win,” Villanueva said, “but at the same time we have to get ready to go back on the road against a very good team. And I know Dallas is going to remember what we did to them here at home. We’ll have to come out with a lot of energy and come ready to play.”
The game against Dallas that Villanueva referenced was a 133-99 Bucks victory over the Mavericks one month ago at the Bradley Center.
Despite losing the rebounding battle 48 to 31, the Bucks were able to defeat the Nuggets, who even with the loss remain in third place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
“We really got crushed on the glass tonight,” Coach Skiles said after the game. “I thought both teams were struggling to find some energy for good portions of the game.”
Denver head coach George Karl, who coached the Bucks during five successful seasons from 1998-2003, was happy that his team out-rebounded Milwaukee, but knew that his team’s 24 turnovers were too much to overcome.
“We won the rebounding war,” Karl said, “but they won the turnover war. I would prefer the turnovers. When you’re in an offensive game like tonight, the turnovers really are heavy.”
Two days after LeBron James had one of the best games of his still-young career at the Bradley Center, Carmelo Anthony, who was drafted by Denver two picks after LeBron in the 2003 Draft, put up 33 points and 9 rebounds in a losing effort.
Already playing without starting power forward Kenyon Martin due to back spasms, the Nuggets suffered another potentially devastating injury when starting center Nene collided with Richard Jefferson in the fourth quarter. According to the Denver Nuggets post-game player injury report, Nene, who was on crutches after the game, has a right knee contusion and will be evaluated in Denver tomorrow.
The Bucks win improves the team’s record to 28-31, already two more wins than all of last season, with 23 games still remaining on the schedule.
Milwaukee heads out on a two-game road trip this week before returning home Saturday night to take on the Washington Wizards at the Bradley Center.
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