New starting line-up pays off as Bucks defeat Oklahoma City

MILWAUKEE -- After losing four games in a row and nine of their last 10, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to end the season on a high note. On Saturday night they completed step one of that goal by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-98.

Looking to shake things up, Bucks coach Scott Skiles put together a new starting line-up. He had both of his point guards, Ramon Sessions and Luke Ridnour, starting together in the backcourt. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute also got the nod, starting in place of Charlie Villanueva at power forward.

“We had to change something,” Skiles said. “I probably waited too long. I was probably a little bit too patient with the other (starting line-up), based on the fact that we went 4-16 in our last 20 games coming into tonight. We’ll go the same way on Monday and see what happens.”

Villanueva, who has started 47 games this season, seems to be taking his new assignment in stride.

“I knew since yesterday’s practice (that I was not going to start),” Villanueva said. “I’m actually fine with it. (Coach wanted) to get the second unit going, and have a scorer out there, and that’s what I’m going to bring for the next game if I come off the bench.”

And at least for one game, it worked.

Richard Jefferson scored 12 of Milwaukee’s 22 first quarter points, connecting on five of his eight shots, including 2-3 from three-point range.

Villanueva came off the bench and provided a powerful scoring punch, scoring 10 points in the second quarter and playing all 12 minutes.

Milwaukee carried a five point lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Bucks were aware that the third quarter had been an issue for them recently.

Tonight, however, was another story. Milwaukee opened the second half on an 11-2 run, seven of those points coming from Jefferson.

Oklahoma City responded with a 6-0 run, with Jeff Green and Kevin Durant hitting back-to-back three’s.

But the Bucks picked up where they left off, outscoring the Thunder 37-21 in the third quarter, and assisting on 11 of their 13 made field goals.

“That (the third quarter) was the biggest key to the game,” Skiles said. “It was important we came out and imposed our will, and we did. We took control of the game there and never let them back in it.”

Sessions knew his team needed to start performing better coming out of the halftime break.

“It’s been a while since we got off to a great start like that (in the second half),” Sessions said. “I feel like that was the key to the game. We got out to a nice little run and was able to maintain it.”

Sessions finished one assist shy of another double-double, scoring 10 points and dishing nine assists.

Jefferson was one rebound away from a double-double of his own. He had a game-high 35 points, tying his season-high, to go along with nine rebounds and four assists.

Back in the starting line-up, Ridnour didn’t miss a shot, hitting all eight of his field goal attempts, finishing with 18 points and eight assists.

Villanueva also put up strong numbers in his new role, with 14 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

The win also guarantees Milwaukee a winning record at home, improving the team to 21-19 this season at the Bradley Center.

The NBA’s fourth-leading scorer Kevin Durant only had three points in the first quarter for Oklahoma City, but scored six in the opening minutes of the second, and had 16 entering halftime.

But with the Thunder down 21 heading into the fourth, Durant sat out the final quarter, and finished with 19 points, six under his season average.

Shaun Livingston, the fourth overall pick in the 2004 Draft, played in his sixth game with Oklahoma City after being signed on March 31. Livingston tore three ligaments in his left knee in February 2007, and has been attempting to come back ever since. Wearing a large knee brace, the 23-year old point guard played 25 minutes, and was a perfect 7-7 from the floor, scoring 14 points.

“He says that he feels like he’s 90-percent fully healed,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of Livingston before the game. “With him not playing in roughly two years it’s going to take some time to get the rust off of his game, and I see that happening.”

Saturday was also a homecoming for Oklahoma City’s rookie shooting guard Kyle Weaver. Starting in place of injured Thabo Sefolosha, the Beloit native had 12 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. He scored seven of the Thunder’s final nine points.

“It feels almost like a high school game,” Weaver said, who estimated that there were “a couple hundred” friends, family, and fans in attendance. He added, “Hopefully I don’t miss the bus.”

The Bucks have two games left on the schedule, including their home finale on Monday against the Orlando Magic. When the two teams squared off less than one month ago at the Bradley Center, Orlando dismantled Milwaukee 106-80. The Bucks then close out their season on Wednesday night in Indiana against the Pacers.