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Bucks make a stop in Charlotte

Dec 29, 2014 - 3:47 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Milwaukee Bucks can exceed last season's win total with a road victory tonight against the Charlotte Hornets.

The Bucks went 15-67 in 2013-14 and have a 15-16 record right now. They were going for back-to-back wins Saturday versus the Atlanta Hawks in the back end of a home-and-home set, but dropped a 90-85 decision.

Khris Middleton scored 21 points off the bench, Zaza Pachulia added 11 and a season-best 15 rebounds, and O.J. Mayo scored 12 points in a reserve role. The Bucks, who pulverized the Hawks, 107-77, on Friday, made only 38.8 percent for the game.

Atlanta, which had a 21-10 lead after 12 minutes, scored 32 points off 19 Milwaukee turnovers and recorded a 51-47 advantage on the glass. The Hawks had 17 offensive boards.

"I think the game was all about offensive rebounds, we gave up too many second chance points, and turnovers," said Pachulia.

Milwaukee is 8-10 on the road this season and has averaged 102.9 ppg since Nov. 18 versus New York. It is shooting 49.1 percent from the floor this month.

The Bucks, losers in three of four games, will visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday.

Charlotte has lost two in a row since a season-high four-game win streak and looks to rebound from Saturday's 102-94 loss to the Orlando Magic.

Kemba Walker's career-high 42 points on 15-of-31 shooting were not enough, while Al Jefferson finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Walker scored 35 points in the second half and has posted 20 or more points seven times in the previous 10 games (23.3 ppg in that span).

"I had a great game, but it wasn't enough," Walker said. "It's disappointing we lost."

The Hornets have scored 100-plus points in five of the past seven contests and are 7-10 at Time Warner Cable Arena this season. They will visit the Houston Rockets next on Wednesday.

Charlotte has beaten Milwaukee twice this season and will go for a season sweep Monday night. The Hornets have won the last seven games in this series and five straight as the host.