12-22-06 Milwaukee Bucks @ Minnesota Timberwolves

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At
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Friday, December 22, 7pm CT

TV: FSN

@Target Center


Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 11-14
(5th Place, Central Division, -5.0)
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Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 10-12
(3rd Tied, Northwest Division, -7.0)
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Milwaukee 113 Minnesota 107
Play By Play

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Michael Redd

29 Points,3 Rebounds,4 Assists,2 Steels

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Big Fourth by Williams Leads Bucks Past Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 22 (AP) -- Kevin Garnett knows who opponents have to stop when they play the Milwaukee Bucks - and it isn't Michael Redd.

``Mo Williams is having a hellified year,'' said Garnett, who had to make up a word to describe Williams' emergence in his fourth season. ``When they've won, and won big, he's been the difference. ... He's by far the reason why they've been able to have success.''

Williams followed up his first career triple-double in style, scoring 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Bucks to a 113-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

NBA

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Game preview: Bucks at Timberwolves

UP NEXT
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (11-14) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-12).

When: 7 tonight.

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis.

Broadcasts: TV - WCGV (Channel 24). Radio - WTMJ-AM (620).

About the Timberwolves: They were booed at home during a fourth-quarter meltdown in their 111-94 loss to the Lakers Wednesday. It was the Timberwolves' third straight loss and in all three defeats, they had led by 10 points. That includes a loss at the Bradley Center last Saturday. Minnesota held a 12-point lead over the Lakers earlier in the fourth quarter but the Timberwolves made 2-of-19 shots in the final period.

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Bucks start three-alarm fire
Redd, Williams and Bell combine to torch the Timberwolves

Minneapolis - Call it a triple threat, if you will.

Michael Redd, Mo Williams and Charlie Bell of the Milwaukee Bucks are all known to have explosive offensive talents that they have put on display individually at various times this season. But when all three have it going on the same night, it makes for a nightmarish evening for the opposition.

That was pretty much the case Friday night at the Target Center where Redd scored 29 points, Bell tied his career high with 28 and Williams added 26 as the Bucks extended their winning streak to three with a 113-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Bucks have won five straight against Western Conference teams.

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Game report: Friday at a glance

On the Court
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Charlie Bell matched his previous season high of 28 points that he recorded in a victory at Golden State on Dec. 2. "The rim got big on me," Bell said. "And I started throwing them up there. With the shot clock expiring, I pump-faked a couple times and I thought there was no way I was going to make that, but it ended up going in. I knew I had to pick it up. Ruben (Patterson) is one of our other scoring options so somebody else had to step up. I said, 'Why not me?' "

PLAY OF THE GAME: Michael Redd's 19-foot jumper with 11.4 seconds left gave Milwaukee a 112-107 lead and sealed the victory. "The plan was for me to get the ball and make a play," said Redd.

OFF THE BENCH: Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva, again coming off the bench because of right-shoulder tendinitis, had nine points on 3-of-9 shooting in 18 minutes.

STATISTICS SHEET: One area in which the Bucks did have an advantage was field-goal attempts. The Bucks put up 97 shots compared to 76 for Minnesota. "I like the pace we're playing. . . . 97 shots is a pretty good pace," said coach Terry Stotts.

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Wolves: 'D' at top of the wish list

Before the Timberwolves scribble "must win" onto any more of the dates on their 2006-07 calendar, they might want to write "must defend" into a few of the boxes first.
In their three most recent games, the Wolves have scored 104, 94 and 107 points, more than enough to win had they maintained the defensive scoring average (93.4) that had carried them through their first 21 games with pride, at least on one end of the court.

Instead, they gave up 108, 111 and, in a six-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at Target Center, a season-worst 113. Their defensive average, in one week's time, has bloated to 94.8. Worse, the right side of the Wolves' won-lost record has bloated with four consecutive defeats.

Turns out, like a lot of holiday shoppers, the Wolves have been victims of identity theft.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

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Wolves gameday

Preview: The Wolves have lost seven of the past nine meetings in this series and are 2-14 overall in Indianapolis. Last season, the teams split two games, each winning on its home court and neither side scoring more than 90 points.

Player to watch: Wolves forward Eddie Griffin was a go-to guy against the Pacers last season, totaling 35 points and 26 rebounds in the two games. This season, Griffin hasn't scored a point in five weeks, dating to the Wolves' visit to Cleveland.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

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Bucks at Timberwolves preview

7 tonight, Target Center Fox Sports Net North, KLCI-FM 106.1

Records: Wolves 10-12, Bucks 11-14

Wolves injuries: None

Bucks injuries: G Bobby Simmons (stress reaction, right heel) is out.

Wolves' record in series: 21-13 (12-5 at home).

St. Paul Pioneer Press

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Bucks 113, Timberwolves 107

MINNEAPOLIS - Kevin Garnett knows who opponents have to stop when they play the Milwaukee Bucks - and it isn't Michael Redd.

"Mo Williams is having a hellified year," said Garnett, who had to make up a word to describe Williams' emergence in his fourth season. "When they've won, and won big, he's been the difference. ... He's by far the reason why they've been able to have success."

Williams followed up his first career triple-double in style, scoring 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Bucks to a 113-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Williams, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a victory over Miami on Wednesday night, scored six straight points for the Bucks in the final 2 minutes, and Redd sealed the victory with a jumper with 11.4 seconds to play.

"I feel comfortable in the last part of the game," said Williams, who has scored 75 points in his last three games. "I have been successful in those situations. I don't feel too much pressure. I feel good and I am taking good shots."

St. Paul Pioneer Press