(Sports Network) – Injuries stunted the Milwaukee Bucks’ growth in 2010-11.
Scott Skiles’ club lost 277 games to injuries from various players, with
talented second-year point guard Brandon Jennings missing 19 contests and
starting center Andrew Bogut sitting out an additional 17.

A defensive-minded club, the Bucks really need a take charge type on the
offensive end. Jennings led the club in scoring at 16.2 ppg with the well-
rounded John Salmons next at 14.0 ppg.

Milwaukee simply needs far more offensive firepower coming from their off-
guard spot and both forward positions, something that could be addressed with
the 10th overall pick. Alec Burks, a 6-foot-6 scoring guard from Colorado.
would be an ideal fit while a Tristan Thompson, a lefty post player with big
hands and a huge wingspan could be a nice backup option.

Multiple sources also say Minnesota and the Bucks have talked about a trade,
with the main pieces being the Wolves’ No. 2 pick for the Bucks No. 10 and
Bogut. In that scenario Milwaukee would set its sights on Arizona forward
Derrick Williams.

Under Contract: G: Brandon Jennings; G: Keyon Dooling; G: John Salmons; F:
Carlos Delfino; F: Drew Gooden; F: Ersan Ilyasova; F: Corey Maggette;
F: Larry Sanders; F/C: John Brockman; C: Andrew Bogut;

Free Agents: G: Michael Redd; G: Earl Boykins; G/F: Chris Douglas-Roberts
(restricted); F: Luc Mbah a Moute

Draft picks: 1st round (10th overall), 2nd round (40th overall)

The Sports Network

MILWAUKEE, March 9 (UPI) — Brandon Jennings and Earl Boykins teamed to make 15-of-19 shots from the field Wednesday and lead the Milwaukee Bucks past Cleveland 110-90.

The Bucks have won back-to-back games for the first time since the last week of January.

Jennings and Boykins both scored 18 points to pace a 55-percent shooting effort by the Bucks. Jennings was 7-of-10 from the field and Boykins came off the bench to hit 8-of-9.

Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 13 for Milwaukee, and John Salmons and Larry Sanders had 12 each.

Cleveland was paced by 15 points from Samardo Samuels. Cleveland has lost three in a row and the Cavaliers’ 12 victories this season are three fewer than any other team in the NBA.

Milwaukee outscored the Cavaliers over the final 8 minutes of the second quarter 28-16 to take a 62-49 advantage at the break and was not threatened during the final two quarters.

WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE —

Fueled by JoakimNoah’s 17 rebounds, the Chicago Bulls pulled away from the Milwaukee Bucks for an 83-75 win on Saturday night.

Chicago has won six of seven to improve to 15-4 since Jan. 14, putting pressure on Boston and Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose added 17 points for the Bulls, who beat the Heat 93-89 on Thursday night.

It was Noah’s third game back following right thumb surgery.

“We are getting into a nice rhythm now that everyone is back,” Rose said. “Noah has come back and really helped us. I think we can get nothing but better as the season goes along.”

Noah said he is starting to feel more comfortable on the court, but knows he can play better.

“The more I’m out on the court, the better I feel and the more energy I have,” he said. “The longer we get to play together, I think we are going to find out how good we can be as a team.”

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored a second-high 16 points and John Salmons added 14 points for the Bucks.

Earl Boykins entered the game for the first time in the fourth quarter and scored Milwaukee’s first 10 points of the period. Salmons hit a 3-pointer to trim the Bulls’ lead to 78-72 with 3:56 remaining.

Rose then drove the lane and hit a wide-open Kyle Korver, who drained a 3-pointer. After Andrew Bogut hit one free throw for the Bucks, Korver made another jumper with 2:21 remaining to put the game away.

Carlos Boozer added 13 points for Chicago, which shook off a slow start to take the opener of an important five-game road trip.

“I like our team. Every night you get it from somebody different,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Both units are playing well right now. We still have to clean some things up, but I think the consistency is there now.”

The Bulls grabbed control midway through the third quarter. Trailing by one, they put together a 19-5 run to grab a 66-53 lead on Deng’s reverse layup with 1:27 remaining. Boozer had eight points in the surge.

Milwaukee made just eight of 23 shots in the third.

“Their defense is unbelievable this year,” Boykins said.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles was impressed with Noah’s energy and his nine offensive rebounds in the first half.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that,” Skiles said. “I didn’t play with Wilt Chamberlain.”

NOTES: Bucks F Ersan Ilyasova missed the game due to a concussion he suffered in a collision in practice on Friday with center Jon Brockman. He is listed as day to day. … The Bucks recalled rookie F Larry Sanders from Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League. … Chicago improved to 12-0 against Central Division teams.

AP-WF-02-27-11 0503GMT

MILWAUKEE — With Joakim Noah back in the lineup, the Chicago Bulls are starting to feel pretty good about themselves.

Fueled by Noah’s 17 rebounds and Luol Deng’s 19 points, the Bulls pulled away from the Milwaukee Bucks for an 83-75 win tonight.

Chicago has won six of seven to improve to 15-4 since Jan. 14, putting pressure on Boston and Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose added 17 points for the Bulls, who beat the Heat 93-89 on Thursday night.

It was Noah’s third game back following right thumb surgery.

“We are getting into a nice rhythm now that everyone is back,” Rose said. “Noah has come back and really helped us. I think we can get nothing but better as the season goes along.”

Noah said he is starting to feel more comfortable on the court, but knows he can play better.

“The more I’m out on the court, the better I feel and the more energy I have,” he said. “The longer we get to play together, I think we are going to find out how good we can be as a team.”

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored a second-high 16 points and John Salmons added 14 points for the Bucks.

Earl Boykins entered the game for the first time in the fourth quarter and scored Milwaukee’s first 10 points of the period. Salmons hit a 3-pointer to trim the Bulls’ lead to 78-72 with 3:56 remaining.

Rose then drove the lane and hit a wide-open Kyle Korver, who drained a 3-pointer. After Andrew Bogut hit one free throw for the Bucks, Korver made another jumper with 2:21 remaining to put the game away.

Carlos Boozer added 13 points for Chicago, which shook off a slow start to take the opener of an important five-game road trip.

“I like our team. Every night you get it from somebody different,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Both units are playing well right now. We still have to clean some things up, but I think the consistency is there now.”

The Bulls grabbed control midway through the third quarter. Trailing by one, they put together a 19-5 run to grab a 66-53 lead on Deng’s reverse layup with 1:27 remaining. Boozer had eight points in the surge.

Milwaukee made just eight of 23 shots in the third.

“Their defense is unbelievable this year,” Boykins said.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles was impressed with Noah’s energy and his nine offensive rebounds in the first half.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that,” Skiles said. “I didn’t play with Wilt Chamberlain.”

NOTES
Bucks F Ersan Ilyasova missed the game due to a concussion he suffered in a collision in practice on Friday with center Jon Brockman. He is listed as day to day. … The Bucks recalled rookie F Larry Sanders from Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League. … Chicago improved to 12-0 against Central Division teams.

Luol Deng scored 19 points, Derrick Rose had 17 and the surging Chicago Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 83-75 on Saturday night.

Chicago has won six of seven to improve to 15-4 since Jan. 14, putting pressure on Boston and Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference. Joakim Noah had eight points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls, who beat the Heat 93-89 on Thursday night.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored a second-high 16 points and John Salmons added 14 points for the Bucks.

Earl Boykins entered the game for the first time in the fourth quarter and scored Milwaukee’s first 10 points of the period. Salmons hit a 3-pointer to trim the Bulls’ lead to 78-72 with 3:56 remaining.

Rose then drove the lane and hit a wide-open Kyle Korver, who drained a 3-pointer. After Andrew Bogut hit one free throw for the Bucks, Korver made another jumper with 2:21 remaining to put the game away.

Carlos Boozer added 13 points for Chicago, which shook off a slow start to take the opener of an important five-game road trip. Noah had 13 rebounds in the first half alone in his third game back following thumb surgery.

The Bulls grabbed control midway through the third quarter. Trailing by one, they put together a 19-5 run to grab a 66-53 lead on Deng’s reverse layup with 1:27 remaining. Boozer had eight points in the surge.

Milwaukee made just eight of 23 shots in the third.

NOTES: Bucks F Ersan Ilyasova missed the game due to a concussion he suffered in a collision in practice on Friday with center Jon Brockman. He is listed as day to day. … The Bucks recalled rookie F Larry Sanders from Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League. … Chicago improved to 12-0 against Central Division teams.