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Delfino scores 30 as Bucks down Knicks

Mar 21, 2011 - 3:15 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Carlos Delfino hit six three-pointers and finished with a career-high 30 points to go with 11 rebounds, as the Milwaukee Bucks held on for a 100-95 victory over the New York Knicks at the Bradley Center.

John Salmons netted 22 points, while Luc Mbah a Moute chipped in with 19 points and eight boards for Milwaukee, which has won two in a row after a three-game slide. The Bucks improved to 19-17 at home this season.

Brandon Jennings fell one assist shy of a triple-double, ending with 14 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Andrew Bogut posted a double-double finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the victors.

Amare Stoudemire had a team-best 25 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who have dropped five of six overall and four straight on the road. New York fell to 16-20 away from Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony had 23 points, while Chauncey Billups had 21 before fouling out.

"The last two minutes of course I fouled out, disappointed about that," Billups said. "I fouled out, but we had a couple of opportunities."

With the Knicks' loss, the Boston Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division title.

Ahead by three after three quarters, Milwaukee continued to hold off the Knicks in the fourth.

Down by six on several occasions, Billups made 1-of-2 at the line to cut the New York deficit to three with 3:31 left. Then after Stoudemire's jumper fell to get his squad within two, Delfino made two free throws, then a triple to give the Bucks a seven-point cushion, 91-84, with 1:43 on the clock.

Anthony hit a corner trifecta with 17.4 seconds left to get the Knicks within three again, this time at 95-92. Jennings was then fouled and made 1-of-2 at the stripe to stretch the Bucks lead to four with 16 seconds to go.

Anthony missed badly from long distance on the Knicks next trip and Milwaukee held on from there.

Salmons closed out the scoring in the first quarter with a reverse layup and the Bucks were up by a commanding 32-9 advantage after 12 minutes of action.

"The good start carried us," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. "We got off to a great start and obviously we needed that cushion. That was big for us."

Billups capped a string of 11 straight with a jumper to get the Knicks within four, 43-39, with 1:29 left before the break and Milwaukee led by six at the intermission.

The Bucks continued to play the front-runner throughout the third, but New York stayed within striking distance, cutting an eight-point deficit down to three.

Toney Douglas, Shawne Williams and Anthony each hit a three-pointer as part of a mini 9-4 run to get the visitors within 75-72 after three.

Game Notes

The Bucks have won two of three meetings against New York this season...The Knicks have now dropped three straight and five of six trips to Milwaukee...Milwaukee made 43.1 percent from the field and 7-of-19 from three- point range, while the Knicks made only 38.6 percent of their shots and 9- of-22 from long distance.