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Redd Leads Bucks Past Bobcats 112-102

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 February 2005, 21:00 CST

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Michael Redd scored 39 points in his return to Milwaukee's lineup, leading the Bucks to a 112-102 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night.

Redd, who missed the last three games because of a sprained index finger, was 15-of-24 from the field and made four 3-pointers. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and help the Bucks snap a two-game losing streak.

Redd had a terrific spurt with under 5 minutes to play, hitting a pair of free throws, a 15-footer and scoring on a spinning layup to push Milwaukee's lead to six at 107-101. After Charlotte held the Bucks scoreless for several possessions, he put the game out of reach with a long 3-pointer with 58 seconds to play.

How much longer the Bucks get to rely on Redd remains to be seen. He has been mentioned in trade talks, and Milwaukee could move him before Thursday's deadline.

Desmond Mason scored 20 points, but irritated Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff with a thunderous dunk in the closing seconds when he was instructing the Bobcats not to foul.

Joe Smith scored 12 points, and Maurice Williams had a career-high 14 assists for the Bucks.

Brevin Knight led Charlotte with 19 points, and Gerald Wallace added 16. Wallace only had two rebounds, and both were offensive boards that he slammed in. Primoz Brezec had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Keith Bogans scored 13 points.

Emeka Okafor, who missed eight of the last nine games with a sprained ankle and skipped the Rookie Challenge during the All-Star weekend, returned to the lineup. He had 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Bucks led by as many as 13 in the third quarter, but Charlotte chipped away and cut it to 87-86 by the end of the period. The Bobcats then took their first lead of the second half on Brezec's tipin that made it 88-87 with 11:29 to play.

The lead went back and forth over the next five possessions until the Bucks scored six straight points to take a 98-94 advantage. Milwaukee pushed the margin to seven points after Toni Kukoc made a 3-pointer and Redd hit a pair of free throws.

But the Bobcats answered with a 3 from Rush and a short jumper from Okafor cut it to 103-101.

Notes:@ The Miami Heat have contacted the Bobcats about trading for guard Steve Smith, but the team is letting Smith decide if he wants to go or not. Smith has already rejected a proposal that would have sent him to the Nets. ... Charlotte is close to signing guard Matt Carroll of the NBDL's Roanoke Dazzle. ... The Bucks activated Marcus Fizer before the game, but he did not play. ... Williams' previous career high in assists was 13. ... Kukoc shot 2-of-8.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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