<font color="red">Chicago Bulls</font> (29-26) @ <font color="purple">Milwaukee Bucks</font> (23-33) TV: UPN 24 Milwaukee Radio: 620 AM WTMJ WHEN: Saturday, March 5th, 2005 TIME: 7:30 PM Central WHERE: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI Previous Game Bulls 99 @ Spurs 102 Bucks 97 @ Timberwolves 103 Streaks Bulls: Lost 2 Bucks: Lost 2 Probable Starters C: Dan Gadzuric/Eddy Curry PF: Joe Smith/Antonio Davis SF: Desmond Mason/Andres Nocioni SG: Michael Redd/Chris Duhon PG: Mo Williams/Kirk Hinrich 6th Man:Toni Kukoc/Ben Gordon Coaches: Terry Porter (second season, 64-72) Scott Skiles (second season with Bulls, 48-72; fifth season overall, 164-151). Injuries Bucks- TJ Ford- OUT (Neck) Bulls- Luol Deng- OUT (Ankle) Jared Reiner- OUT (Quad) THE SERIES The teams split the first two games this season, with each team winning at home. The Bucks have won 13 straight over the Bulls in Milwaukee, dating to March 29, 1998. ABOUT THE BULLS: After a 0-9 start, coach Scott Skiles has the Bulls in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Before losing Friday night in San Antonio, the Bulls were 20-8 since Jan. 1 and were the fourth-hottest team in the league over that period. The Bulls had the sixth-best home record during that span (12-3) and the fifth-best road record (8-5). Matchup to Watch Michael Redd vs Ben Gordon Redd: 22.7 PPG 4.3 RPG 2.4 APG 45% FG Gordon: 14.7 PPG 2.6 RPG 1.9 APG 43% FG Prediction The Bucks head home to take on the young Chicago Bulls. The Bucks starters played big time minutes last night in a come from behind TWolves win. I think the Bucks will be tired, but the Bulls will be too, they are coming in from a game last night in Texas. This will be a sloppy game. Bulls by 5
BUCKS WIN 95-87! Chicago 21 23 19 24 87 Final Milwaukee 16 25 29 25 95 Bucks Leading Scorer- Desmond Mason 20 pts Bulls Leading Scorer- Kirk Hinrich 24 pts Bucks Leading Rebounder- Joe Smith 16 Rebounds Bulls Leading Rebounder- Tyson Chandler 12 Rebounds Bucks Leading Assists- Mo Williams 11 Assists Bulls Leading Assists- Chris Duhon 7 Assists Bucks improve to 24-33 Bulls fall to 29-27 Next Games: Bucks: @ Chicago Monday Bulls: vs Milwaukee Monday GMan's MVPs: Mo Williams Notes: The Bucks played a good second half to get a hard fought come from behind win against a good Bulls team. Mo Williams had another great game for the Bucks scoring 16, grabbing 5 boards and dishing out 11 assists. This kid is going to be good. Joe Smith had 10 pts 16 rebounds, Michael Redd added 16 pts for the Bucks. Marcus Fizer and Toni Kukoc led the Bucks off the bench with 8 apiece.
Another nice win by the Bucks. They are establishing themselves as one of the better home teams in the league. The group of Redd, Mason, Mo Williams, and Joe Smith have great chemistry on the floor and each provide the team with a specific need. Redd provides the scoring, Mo provides the assists and playmaking, Smith grabs the boards and anchors the defense, and Mason gives them a solid all around game. I'm looking forward to see who they add in the off-season.
