The Milwaukee Bucks kick off a quick two-game Midwest road
swing Tuesday in the Windy City by facing the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
The Bucks are coming off a home-opening win on Saturday, when rookie star
Brandon Jennings poured in 24 points and Milwaukee used a strong second half
to take down the Detroit Pistons, 96-85, in a battle between two Central
Division foes at Bradley Center.
Hakim Warrick had 21 points and five rebounds for the Bucks, who were coming
off a season-opening loss to Philadelphia on Friday. Michael Redd and Ersan
Ilyasova each had nine points for Milwaukee.
"I thought he (Jennings) had a pretty good all around game," Milwaukee head
coach Scott Skiles said. "We had a really nice floor game again and he easily
could have had 10 or 12 assists. Detroit's guards gave us problems the last
two games and kept us on our heels defensively. (Jennings) came out in the
third quarter and gave us a huge lift and, you know, got in the zone. It once
again shows you a different element of his game."
Jennings just missed joining the great Oscar Robertson as just the second
player in NBA history to record a triple-double in his debut when he put up 17
points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Philadelphia.
On the injury front, Milwaukee will be without its top scorer, guard Michael
Redd, who will miss at least two weeks after experiencing soreness in his
surgically-repaired left knee.
Redd underwent surgery last March to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament,
and he left Saturday night's game against Detroit during the third quarter
with discomfort in the knee.
The Bucks finish their short trek in Minneapolis on Friday.
The Bulls, meanwhile, finished a two-game road trip winless after Dwyane Wade
scored 25 points as the Miami Heat edged Chicago, 95-87, on Sunday.
Luol Deng tallied 26 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who lost to
Boston last Friday to begin the trek. John Salmons ended with 17 points. Brad
Miller added 11 points off the bench, while Joakim Noah finished with 10
points and seven boards in defeat.
"We just didn't make plays down the stretch," Salmons said after Sunday's
loss. (The Heat) made some plays and hit some shots."
Chicago took three of its four contests versus the Bucks last season and has
won 10 of its last 12 overall against Milwaukee.
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