MILWAUKEE -- With a 107-102 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, the Milwaukee Bucks are one step closer to being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Milwaukee carried a four-point lead into the second quarter, but a 20-6 Memphis run to begin the next period jump-started the Grizzlies. They shot 10-15 from the field in the quarter, outscoring the Bucks 38-18 in the second, and led the rest of the way.
The Bucks made it interesting in the closing minutes, cutting a 10-point Memphis lead with less than two minutes down to three, but after a strong defensive stand and an opportunity to tie the game, Charlie Bell shot an air-ball from the corner, allowing O.J. Mayo to seal it for the Grizzlies from the free throw line.
“We didn’t come ready to play,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said after the game. “Our defense was poor. They had the most energy and they deserved to win.”
Bucks guard Charlie Bell agreed.
“We had no life,” Bell said. “No energy. They came out and pretty much did what they wanted to do.”
Milwaukee was out-rebounded 41-28, and also shot 13 fewer free throws than Memphis.
The Bucks were led offensively by Richard Jefferson with 24 points. Charlie Bell added 23 points, connecting on 5-8 from beyond the arc.
Ramon Sessions followed up his triple-double against the Lakers with a double-double, scoring 16 points and dishing 11 assists.
Milwaukee was in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings at the beginning of March, but have only won three of their last 16 games. They are now five games back of the eighth-place Detroit Pistons with only four games left, and are on the verge of officially spending another post-season watching from home.
“The beginning of March we were right there,” Bell said. “We had a nice feeling. We thought we could make a run. March just fell apart on the defensive end. Offensively we just hit a rut. We’ve got to do a better job finishing out these games and get some wins.”
Despite Memphis having the fifth worst record in the league, they have now won four straight games.
“The confidence level is really high right now,” Grizzlies rookie O.J. Mayo said. “It’s something we can carry into next year to show people what we are capable of doing.”
Mayo, who will receive strong consideration for Rookie of the Year, had 0 points at halftime on 0-4 shooting. He finished with 12 points and seven assists.
Another Memphis rookie, Marc Gasol, recorded his 17th double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He was 11-14 from the free throw line, a career-high in both makes and attempts.
“It’s huge having a guy that draws so much attention down low like Marc (Gasol),” Grizzlies second-year guard Mike Conley said.
Conley had a team-high nine assists to go along with 17 points and six rebounds.
Rudy Gay poured in a game-high 26 points, 12 of which came in the Grizzlies’ commanding second quarter.
Earlier in the day, the Bucks officially announced that Andrew Bogut would not return this season as he continues to rest a lingering back injury. Bogut has missed over half of the team’s games this year, averaging 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in 36 games.
Milwaukee also signed three-point shooting specialist Salim Stoudamire to a multi-year contract last night. Stoudamire was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the first pick of the second round (31st overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft, but has not played this season. He was not in uniform for tonight’s game.
With only four regular season games remaining, the Bucks have three days off before hosting the Atlanta Hawks at the Bradley Center on Wednesday night. Atlanta is currently fourth in the East, and will more than likely host either the Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
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