• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Jefferson, Sessions help Bucks edge Grizzlies

Nov 15, 2008 - 6:39 AM MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Richard Jefferson scored 26 points and Ramon Sessions came up big off the bench as the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Memphis Grizzlies, 101-96, in overtime on Friday.

Jefferson continued his hot play and is helping pick up the slack for the injured Michael Redd, who missed a sixth straight game with a high ankle sprain.

Jefferson scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half Wednesday, helping the Bucks snap a three-game skid with a win over San Antonio. Milwaukee improved to 3-3 without its star guard.

"The guys fought hard for it, and we were able to come in and steal one," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. "Somehow, we had big performances from a lot of guys and were able to find a way to win."

"Our defense was the difference in this one and we got a great lift off the bench," said Jefferson, who is averaging better than 20.0 points since Redd's injury.

Another big reason the Bucks pulled this one out was Sessions, who scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and overtime. His 3-pointer with 9.4 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 87-87. He also hit a pair of free throws that put Milwaukee up with 42 seconds left in the extra period.

"If it wasn't for that shot (Sessions' 3-pointer) ... we would probably be down after a tough loss," said center Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut, who fouled out in overtime after recording 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Rookie O.J. Mayo scored 25 points and Rudy Gay added 24 for Memphis, which has lost four straight.

The Bucks shot just 38.5 percent from the floor but made up for it by dominating the boards. Rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had 19 points and 17 rebounds, as Milwaukee held a 62-34 edge on the glass.

"Coach always talks about effort and this was an effort win for us tonight," said Jefferson, who also pulled down 10 rebounds.

The extra session turned into a free-throw shooting contest, and Sessions hit a pair to make it 95-94 with 42 ticks remaining.

Luke Ridnour then hit six free throws in the final 23 seconds to seal the win. After Ridnour made it 99-96 with 18 seconds left, Mayo's 3-pointer from the right corner was off the mark. Ridnour then hit two more from the line for the final margin.

Milwaukee led for most of the fourth quarter but could not pull away.

The Grizzlies used a 9-2 run to take a 85-84 lead on a floater by Gay with 25.8 seconds left. Gay added a pair of free throws, but Sessions' 3-pointer denied the Grizzlies the win.

Mayo scored 15 of his 25 points in the first half, when Memphis built a 16-point lead before heading to the locker room ahead, 49-37.

"We had momentum at the half, but we lost it," Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni said. "We were in the game, but you can only survive so many second opportunities. Twenty-three offensive rebounds are going to stick you eventually, and they did in overtime."