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Yi looks sharp as Bucks top Jazz

Oct 11, 2007 - 3:31 AM By Chris Bellamy PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Ticker) - Give Yi Jianlian a mulligan.

After scoring just three points and quickly fouling out of his preseason debut, Yi made up for that in a single quarter in his second outing as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Utah Jazz, 90-81, on Wednesday night.

The 7-foot rookie forward the sixth overall pick in this year's draft scored 11 points in a five-minute span in the second quarter - knocking down four long jumpers and three free throws en route to 12 points.

Utilizing his distinct size advantage and surprising speed, Yi did most of his damage on the perimeter and was the primary offensive threat for the Bucks' reserves.

After missing his first two shots of the game including an off-balance 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down Yi settled into a rhythm, burying a 21-footer moments later.

Later in the quarter, he scored nine consecutive points for Milwaukee, including a long 3-pointer that cut a six-point deficit in half.

All-Star guard Michael Redd picked up the slack in the second half, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the third quarter alone.

His backcourt counterparts for Utah fared even better. Second-year swingman Ronnie Brewer one of four Jazz players competing for a starting job at shooting guard scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and had two steals to pace Utah.

Morris Almond, the team's first-round pick and another candidate to fill the two-guard role added 10 points and five boards in his debut. Center Kyrylo Fesenko, a second-round choice traded to Utah on draft day, added seven points and a pair of blocks.

Andrei Kirilenko - who butted heads with coach Jerry Sloan in the offseason - collected 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks for the Jazz.