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Bucks-Warriors Preview

Jan 14, 2010 - 9:07 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (15-21) at Golden State (11-26), 10:30 p.m. EDT

With Michael Redd's career in limbo, the Milwaukee Bucks will likely have a new go-to scorer for the next few seasons. Brandon Jennings didn't need long to become the front-runner for that role.

Jennings faces the Golden State Warriors on Friday night for the first time since his record-breaking performance two months ago, leading a Bucks team that is continuing what has been a terrible six-game road trip.

Redd tore ligaments in his left knee for the second time in less than a year Sunday night in a 95-77 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving Milwaukee (15-21) without him for the rest of the season. Redd, who will need surgery, already had missed 16 games this season due to soreness following surgery last season, when the Bucks had a leading scorer other than Redd for the first time in six years.

Richard Jefferson was Milwaukee's top scorer in 2008-09 but was traded to San Antonio on June 23. The Bucks drafted Jennings with the 10th overall pick two days later, and they have been more than happy with his production.

The 20-year-old point guard is second among NBA rookies in scoring, averaging 18.0 points, and is first with 6.0 assists a contest.

In his seventh career game, Jennings had 55 points to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's franchise rookie record as Milwaukee beat Golden State 129-125 on Nov. 14. It was two points shy of Redd's franchise record and the most by any first-year player since Earl Monroe had 56 on Feb. 13, 1968.

Jennings also joined Cleveland's LeBron James as the only players to score at least 55 in a game before turning 21, and he finished three points shy of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA rookie record set in 1960.

This month, though, has been a struggle for Jennings, averaging 10.5 points and shooting 26.9 percent in his last six games. He had 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting in Milwaukee's 120-108 loss to Portland on Wednesday night.

The Bucks are 0-3 on this season-high six-game trip, shooting a combined 39.2 percent from the field.

"We have a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be," center Andrew Bogut told the Bucks' official Web site.

At least Milwaukee had coach Scott Skiles back after he missed Monday's 105-101 loss in Phoenix because he was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat.

Golden State (11-26), meanwhile, was without Ronny Turiaf (ankle) and lost Vladimir Radmanovic (Achilles') and C.J. Watson (hand) in the second half of a 115-102 loss to Miami on Wednesday night.

Turiaf is listed as doubtful, but Radmanovic and Watson are expected to return as the Warriors play the third game of a season-high seven-game homestand. Golden State has lost five of seven.

Injuries continue to hurt the Warriors' depth, but second-year guard Anthony Morrow had 24 points off the bench versus the Heat. Morrow had been held under 10 points in four of his previous five games.

"Even if I'm not making shots I still have to be rebounding, defending getting some steals ... just being active," Morrow said.

Corey Maggette had 25 points Wednesday and is averaging 25.2 in 12 games since returning to a starting role last month. He had 25 points off the bench in Golden State's last meeting with Milwaukee.