Suns-Bucks Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Feb 07 2012 12:25AM

Michael Redd broke the 40-point barrier 11 times during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, but a 17-point performance for the Phoenix Suns on Saturday could have been one of the best moments of his career.

Redd is likely in for another memorable game Tuesday, regardless of how many points he scores.

Returning to Milwaukee for the first time since spending his first 11 seasons there, Redd will try to help the Phoenix Suns win three straight for the first time in nearly a year.

Signed by Phoenix as a free agent two games into this season, Redd replaced the injured Jared Dudley (bruised thigh) on Saturday, earning his first start since Jan. 10, 2010, while with the Bucks. Redd took advantage of the chance, hitting four 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 17 points in a 95-89 victory over league-worst Charlotte.

Left knee injuries limited Redd to 61 total games from 2008-11.

"To come back, through the (ACL and MCL) tears, through the hurt, through the hours of rehab, training to come back and accomplish this is may be the most proud moment of my career," he said.

That's saying a lot coming from a player who is ranked second in Bucks history with 1,003 3-pointers and fourth with 11,554 points.

While the 32-year-old Redd, who scored 10 points off the bench in Monday's 99-90 victory at Atlanta, is trying to revive his career, Steve Nash continues to play at a high level in his 16th season. The two-time league MVP, who turns 38 on Tuesday, is averaging 15.0 points and 10.0 assists for Phoenix.

"I feel good and I enjoy playing," Nash said after scoring 24 points with 11 assists Monday.

Nash said the discomfort in his bothersome right shoulder "wasn't bad," so there's a good chance he'll be in the lineup again Tuesday when the Suns (10-14) go for their first three-game winning streak since a four-game run last Feb. 23-28.

The Bucks (10-13) probably wish Nash would take the night off. Nash had 10 points and a season-best 17 assists Jan. 8 as the Suns won their 24th in a row at home in this series, 109-93.

Phoenix has also been dominant in the overall series, winning 36 of its last 41 meetings with Milwaukee.

That doesn't bode well for a Bucks team coming off two rough losses following a three-game winning streak. A night after falling 88-80 at lowly Detroit, Milwaukee was routed 113-90 at home Saturday by Eastern Conference-leading Chicago.

"We've got eight straight quarters of pretty poor defense," said coach Scott Skiles, who started his NBA coaching career in Phoenix from 1999-2002.

Milwaukee point guard Brandon Jennings, the team leader with 19.9 points and 5.4 assists per game, should be well-rested after scoring eight points in 22 foul-plagued minutes Saturday.

Jennings, though, finished with a season-low five points and four assists last month in Phoenix.

The Bucks are 7-3 at home, compared with a 3-10 mark on the road.

Phoenix won its last visit to Milwaukee 102-88 on March 4, when it went 11 for 24 from 3-point range.

Nash hits late layup, Suns beat Bucks 107-105

By CHRIS JENKINS
Posted Feb 07 2012 11:52PM

MILWAUKEE (AP) What a way for Steve Nash to celebrate his 38th birthday. It wasn't a bad homecoming for Michael Redd, either.

Nash hit a driving layup to give Phoenix the lead with 5 seconds left and Redd scored 14 points in his first game against his former team as the Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-105 on Tuesday.

Nash dribbled near halfcourt for several seconds before making his move, hoping to create a chance to take the last shot - but not wanting to run out of time, either.

"You don't want to go too late, in case you don't get anything," Nash said.

Nash finished with 18 points and 11 assists.

Marcin Gortat scored 21 points and Jared Dudley added 19 for the Suns, who have won three straight.

Drew Gooden scored a season-high 25 for the Bucks, who lost their third in a row.

Mike Dunleavy and Ersan Ilyasova added 17 points each for the Bucks.

Brandon Jennings was held to three points - and only put up four shots in 28-plus minutes.

"I just got in and talked to him," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "He looked a bit disconnected. I'm not sure why."

The Suns led 67-50 at halftime, but blew their lead in the second half and needed Nash to rally them at the end.

"It was a great first half - and a gut-check second half," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

With the game tied at 98, Jennings hit a 3-pointer with 3:11 left - his first points of the game, on only his second shot.

"I just didn't have the shots I usually have," Jennings said. "That's about it."

Dudley hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one, then Nash hit a 3-pointer for a 103-101 lead with 2:05 left.

Gooden scored on a driving layup to tie it, but Gortat hit a jumper. Ilyasova was fouled on the other end and hit a pair of free throws to tie it again.

The Suns called timeout with just over 20 seconds left, and Nash dribbled near halfcourt for several seconds before slicing through the Bucks' defense and scoring to give Phoenix the lead. The Bucks couldn't get a shot off on their final possession.

It was an emotional return to Milwaukee for Redd, whose 11-year Bucks career ended with a series of injuries on a big contract that tied up the team's finances. Now coming off the bench for the Suns, Redd played a key role in a second-quarter surge to take control of the game.

"It's just different, man," Redd said. "Odd, weird, nervous. But once I hit the court it all goes away a little bit."

Redd said before the game that it felt strange staying in a hotel, instead of at home, in Milwaukee. When he got to the arena, he said an equipment manager had to stop him and tell him he was walking toward the wrong locker room.

Redd didn't know what kind of reception he would receive from the fans.

"I know where I stand with our fan base," he said before the game. "I've always been appreciative of the fans, in the good times and the bad times, Milwaukee has great fans. In 11 years, they've seen me grow up and seen me get married, see me have kids. So I have nothing but love."

The Bucks showed a short video tribute during the first time out. Fans responded with a warm ovation and Redd waved back.

Redd entered the game later in the first quarter - then began to look like his old self in the second quarter, scoring eight straight points for the Suns.

"It was pretty much fun to watch," Nash said. "Mike obviously had a huge career here. Trying to be back playing is amazing. For him to come back to Milwaukee under all the things he had to face with his injuries and put on a show like that in the first was exciting for all of us on the bench."

Phoenix led 67-50 at halftime, tying the Bucks' season high for most points allowed in a half - a mark Milwaukee set only three days beforehand against Chicago. But the Bucks made a big third-quarter surge as the Suns suddenly went cold.

"The one thing we kept saying in the locker room before we walked out for the second half is that if anybody knows Skiles' team, it doesn't matter," Gentry said. "We could have been up 30, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. They're going to keep playing."

Notes: Stephen Jackson returned for the Bucks after Skiles didn't play him in three of the Bucks' past four games. He scored 12 points in 29-plus minutes off the bench. "I'm going to be a professional," Jackson said. "If they call me, I'm going to go out there and work hard and do what I can." ... Gooden was called for a flagrant-1 foul in the first quarter. ... All five Suns starters, and Redd off the bench, scored in double figures.

Notebook: Suns 107, Bucks 105

Posted Tuesday February 7, 2012 11:32PM

By Rick Braun, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Steve Nash capped his 38th birthday with a running bank-shot with five seconds left to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 107-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night at the Bradley Center.

The Suns blew a 21-point third-quarter lead and trailed 94-90 after Beno Udrih's jumper with 7:32 left before rallying back.

Center Marcin Gortat led the Suns (11-14) with 21 points and nine rebounds, guard Jared Dudley added 19 points and Nash finished with 18 points and 11 assists.

Drew Gooden led the Bucks with 25 points, and Mike Dunleavy and Ersan Ilyasova with 17 each off the bench. But leading scorer Brandon Jennings had just three points and took only four shots in 28:32 of playing time.

The Suns won their third straight, while the Bucks (10-14) lost their third straight.

QUOTABLE: "It's hard. You lose all the momentum, they've got all the confidence and now they have a chance to steal one, in effect. So to come back and show some resolve was fantastic."
-- Steve Nash on going from a 21-point lead to down four and still rallying to win

THE STAT: After going just 2 for 22 during a stretch from midway through the third quarter to midway through the fourth, the Suns made 6 of their final 11 shots, including two 3-pointers by Dudley and one by Nash over the final 6:24.

TURNING POINT: After taking a 94-90 lead with a 32-9 run, the Bucks committed turnovers on their next two possessions with a chance to increase the lead. That allowed the Suns to gather themselves and rally over the final six minutes.

QUOTABLE II: "We just wanted to make sure they take a tough shot. We didn't want to give up a three for the win. We knew it was going to be one of two guys -- Stephen Jackson, who's definitely made a lot of shots at the end of games, over Brandon Jennings. So we wanted to keep it out of their hands and make sure we made them take a tough shot."
-- Suns forward Channing Frye, who helped trap Jackson 25 feet from the basket and prevent the Bucks from getting off a final shot.

HOT: Dudley hit 7-for-9 shots, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers, and Gortat hit 8-for-12.

GOOD MOVE: After the Bucks took a 94-90 lead against his second unit, Suns coach Alvin Gentry brought his five starters back with 6:46 left and watched them rally to victory.

BAD MOVE: The Bucks did not get the ball into Jennings' hands on the final possession and never got off a shot to either tie or win.

ROOKIE WATCH: Suns forward Markieff Morris went just 1-for-7 in 20 ½ minutes for two points.

NOTABLE: During the first timeout with 5:41 left in the first quarter, the Bucks played a video tribute to Suns guard Michael Redd, who played the previous 11 seasons in Milwaukee. Redd checked into the game shortly thereafter with 4:05 left in the quarter. Redd made six of his first seven shots and finished with 14 points. ... For the second straight game, Jennings, the team's leading scorer, was shut out in the first half. ... In their last three home games the Bucks have faced a cumulative halftime deficit of 53 points. They trailed Miami by 13 a week ago, Chicago by 23 Saturday night and the Suns by 17. ... Ilyasova had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. ... Forward Josh Childress did not score but had 12 rebounds for the Suns. ... The Suns grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, with Gortat and Childress grabbing five each. ... The Bucks' bench outscored the Suns' bench, 54-22. But Phoenix starters outscored Milwaukee's starters 85-51

UP NEXT: For the Suns, Thursday vs. Houston, Saturday @ Sacramento. Monday @ Golden State. For the Bucks, Wednesday @ Toronto, Friday @ Cleveland, Saturday vs. Orlando.

• Suns: --
• Bucks: Bogut

• Suns: Lopez
• Bucks: Jackson

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #14 Ed Malloy, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #29 Mark Lindsay
• Attendance: 13203
• Duration: 1:59