Bucks’ offense punches out San Antonio

Published 6:00 am Monday, December 24, 2001

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – The Milwaukee Bucks weren’t intimidated bythe San Antonio Spurs’ impressive record.

Sam Cassell scored 33 points, and Glenn Robinson added 30 tolead the Bucks to a 101-91 victory over San Antonio on Sundaynight, snapping the Spurs’ 10-game winning streak.

San Antonio (20-5) entered with the league’s best record, andhad been undefeated in December. The Los Angeles Lakers are19-4.

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”In all my experiences, being the best team in December doesn’tmean anything,” Cassell said. ”Are they the best team in the NBA?No.”

Less than 24 hours after the Houston Rockets snapped a 15-gamelosing streak with a win over Milwaukee, the Bucks stopped theNBA’s longest winning streak of the season.

”We had to do it,” Cassell said. ”This was definitely a hugegame for us, especially after last night.”

In other games, Sacramento routed Phoenix 133-101; Toronto beatMiami 83-76; and Boston defeated Memphis 80.

The Bucks trailed 73-70 after three quarters, but used an 8-0run to start the fourth and take a lead they would not relinquish.The loss was just the second at home for the Spurs.

”Our backs were against the wall,” Robinson said. ”Weapproached this one like a playoff game.”

Tim Duncan scored 22 points and had 18 rebounds, David Robinsonadded 21 and Steve Smith 20 for the Spurs, who are still off to thebest start in franchise history.

Michael Redd started Milwaukee’s go-ahead spurt with a 10-footerin the lane and a 3-pointer. Tim Thomas followed with a 3-pointerto give the Bucks a 78-73 lead with 9:44 remaining.

San Antonio pulled to 78-76 on David Robinson’s three-pointplay. But Cassell and Glenn Robinson controlled the game fromthere.

The two took turns hitting jumpers on five straight possessions,and two free throws by Cassell gave Milwaukee a 96-88 lead with2:48 to play. Tony Parker cut into the lead with a three-pointplay, but Ervin Johnson’s tip-in and a long 3-pointer by Cassellput it away for the Bucks.

”Milwaukee got us in precarious spots defensively,” SanAntonio coach Gregg Popovich said. ”Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinsondeserve a lot of credit.”

Milwaukee hit 54.4-percent – 43-of-79 – from the field, whichwas the highest total by a Spurs opponent this season.

”We win by defending, and we didn’t do a great job of ittonight,” Duncan said.

Kings 133, Suns 101

Peja Stojakovic scored 26 of Sacramento’s NBA season-high pointstotal as the Kings snapped a two-game losing slide.

The Kings improved to 14-1 at home and 20-9 overall, even thoughforward Chris Webber missed his third straight game with tendinitisin his left ankle.

Sacramento’s Hedo Turkoglu had 21 points 10 rebounds, despiteleaving the game briefly in the third quarter after his eye washurt on a flagrant foul by Alton Ford.

Tony Delk led the Suns with 24 points, while Shawn Marion scored18 of his 20 points in the second half.

Raptors 83, Heat 76

Vince Carter had 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead Toronto toits third straight victory.

Jim Jackson had a team-high 12 points for Miami, which has lost18 of their last 21. The visiting Heat, who shot 39 percent,entered averaging a league-low 82.7 points.

Antonio Davis added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors,who have not lost since calling a players-only meeting following afour-game losing streak.

Toronto played about a half-hour after assistant coach StanAlbeck was hospitalized following a stroke.

Celtics 85, Grizzlies 80

Antoine Walker had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Paul Pierceadded 20 points to lead Boston over Memphis.

The Celtics used an 8-0 run in the final 1:30 to win their sixthstraight home game.

Shane Battier scored 22 points, and Tony Massenberg 18 for theGrizzlies.