Trail Blazers 94 - 116 Bucks
Final
  for this game

Bucks try to continue last season push against Blazers

Apr 7, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Bucks will continue their late season push toward the playoffs when they host the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Bucks have won three straight and five of six to move within one game of the New York Knicks for the eighth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference.

The latest triumph came on Friday when Milwaukee improved to 2-0 on a five- game homestand with a 95-90 win over the lowly Charlotte Bobcats. Monta Ellis continued to shine in a Bucks uniform in that one, scoring 25 points to lift Milwaukee.

Brandon Jennings added 18 points to go with nine assists, Mike Dunleavy poured in 15 points off the bench, and Ersan Ilyasova recorded a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Bucks.

Milwaukee, which is 14-12 at Bradley Center, will also face Oklahoma City and New York on its residency.

The Blazers, meanwhile, also have playoff hopes in the West, albeit slimmer ones.

Portland is now 3 1/2 games behind Denver for the final slot after a thrilling 99-97 overtime win in Dallas on Friday.

It seemed as if Portland and Dallas would be heading into double overtime for the second straight meeting between the teams, but LaMarcus Aldridge connected on a fadeaway jumper as the buzzer sounded in the extra frame to lift the Trail Blazers.

"We wanted LaMarcus to get the ball. LaMarcus is our All-Star, and he's working his tail off. To his credit he hit a big time shot tonight," Trail Blazers head coach Kaleb Canales said. "Big time player, big time shot."

Those two teams also met on Feb. 11 with Dallas taking a 97-94 decision in double OT behind Delonte West's six points in the second overtime period.

Aldridge finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Raymond Felton scored a season-high 30 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists for Portland, which won consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 23-24.

Milwaukee snapped a three-game skid to the Blazers with a 116-87 win in Rip City back on March 20 but the Bucks are just 1-6 in games played on Saturday this season.






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