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Bucks entertain Cavs on heels on blockbuster trade

Mar 14, 2012 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - Now Milwaukee Bucks guard Branding Jennings has another scorer alongside him after the team acquired Monta Ellis in a five-player deal with the Golden State Warriors.

The deal is contingent on all players reporting and passing physicals with their new teams. Milwaukee struck a deal with the Warriors a few days before the NBA trade deadline and is currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks are hoping the move will solidify a playoff spot down the road and will shoot for a fourth straight win tonight versus Cleveland.

Milwaukee gave up center Andrew Bogut and swingman Stephen Jackson for Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh and injured center Kwame Brown. Ellis is averaged 21.9 points and 6.0 assists in 37 games for Golden State this season. The oft- injured Bogut is currently out with a fractured left ankle and was averaging 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in 12 games before the injury.

"We're extremely excited to acquire a player the caliber of Andrew Bogut, who we think is certainly one of the top centers in the NBA," said Warriors general manager Larry Riley. "He will add an element of toughness to our team and will provide us with scoring, rebounding and a defensive presence in the middle. We've lacked those elements in recent years and think that Andrew's addition will be a key factor in the growth of our team."

The Bucks made it three straight wins and four in five attempts with Monday's 105-99 triumph at New Jersey, as Jennings scored 18 of his 34 points in the second half and Drew Gooden scored 23 points in the win. Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday, scored just four points.

"We went to our small lineup at the end of the third quarter and caught up right away," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. "We were able to get Drew (Gooden) a blow during that period of time and ultimately get him back in. Our smalls deserve a lot of credit. Brandon was really good."

Milwaukee is 10-9 at home this season.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers had a season-high three-game winning streak come to an end with last night's 96-88 loss versus the Toronto Raptors.

Antawn Jamison paced the Cavaliers with 20 points, while Alonzo Gee and Ramon Sessions chipped in 16 points apiece. No. 1 overall pick of last year's draft Kyrie Irving filled the stat sheet with 14 points, seven boards and seven assists in defeat.

"I didn't think we played with the same intensity that we played with the last three games," said Cleveland head coach Byron Scott. "I thought we tried to turn it on, then we got back and then we relaxed. That's just something you can't do. They played pretty well."

The Cavs will try for a third straight win on the road tonight and are 7-11 away from Quicken Loans Arena this season.

Cleveland suffered a 113-112 overtime loss to Milwaukee at home on Feb. 10 this season and is winless in the last four meetings between the two Central Division rivals. The Cavs have lost three in a row in Brew City.