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Augustin plays hero as Bobcats edge Bucks

Dec 27, 2011 - 7:17 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - D.J. Augustin scored five of his 19 points in the final 66 seconds and was the difference-maker in the Bobcats pulling out a season-opening 96-95 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Augustin also handed out eight assists, while Gerald Henderson added 18 points and nine rebounds for Charlotte, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half before staging a comeback.

Brandon Jennings scored 22 points on 21 shots for the Bucks, who got 17 points and nine rebounds from Andrew Bogut but shot just 37 percent from the field in the second half.

Last season, Charlotte finished one game behind Milwaukee with a 34-48 record, and the clubs were involved in a three-team offseason trade in an attempt to alter their lottery-laden history.

The biggest name in the deal, Stephen Jackson, was a non-factor for the Bucks on Monday, fouling out with 3:56 left in regulation after scoring just six points.

By that time, the Bobcats had erased an 11-point halftime deficit by winning the third quarter, 30-14, and maintained control for the first nine-plus minutes of the final stanza.

But Jennings drained consecutive three-pointers around an Augustin traveling violation to pull Milwaukee within 89-87, and another Bobcats turnover led to Mike Dunleavy's go-ahead three-pointer with 1:20 left.

After two Augustin free throws, Bogut and Augustin traded buckets in the lane, the latter beating Beno Udrih off the dribble with 36.5 seconds to go.

Jennings missed a 21-footer at the other end, then fouled Augustin along the sideline with 20.6 ticks to go.

Augustin made 1-of-2 at the line, and Dunleavy was off the mark on an open three-pointer from the left wing. Kemba Walker, drafted ninth overall in this year's draft after leading Connecticut to a national title, sealed the win with two free throws with 9.9 showing.

"We stayed together and kept fighting," Augustin said. "It was a crucial win."

Milwaukee scored the last 10 points of the first quarter to jump in front, 27-19. Shaun Livingston started the run with a tip-in of his miss, and combined with fellow offseason acquisition Udrih for 17 points in a second quarter controlled by the Bucks.

Jennings beat the halftime buzzer with a runner from the left elbow for a 52-41 cushion, but the third quarter was a different story.

The Bucks led by as many as 14 early in the frame, but they turned the ball over five times in the last 6:16 to let Charlotte back in it.

The Bobcats scored the final 13 points, highlighted by a three-point play from Walker to take a 71-66 lead heading to the fourth. In the final minute of the third, a frustrated Drew Gooden committed a Flagrant 2 foul on Henderson and was promptly ejected.

Game Notes

Charlotte has a day off before hosting the Heat on Wednesday, while the Bucks are back in action on Tuesday in a home game against the Timberwolves...Corey Maggette, who was also involved in the aforementioned trade, donated 12 points and seven rebounds, while Walker totaled 13 and seven in his professional debut...Livingston finished with 14 points while Udrih and Dunleavy each scored 13...The Bobcats, who won the battle on the glass, 52-39, have won five straight at home against the Bucks.