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Bucks snap seven-game losing streak against Clippers

Dec 5, 2007 - 7:13 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers thought they had finally found someone they could beat.

The Clippers had defeated the Milwaukee Bucks seven consecutive times, but let a 13-point halftime lead slip away falling, 87-78, suffering their fifth straight loss on Tuesday.

"Right now, obviously, things aren't good for us and there is only one way to get it better," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, who spent 10 extra minutes talking to his team after the game. "It's a step-by-step thing. It has to be as a group as opposed to individuals."

Michael Redd scored 25 points and center Andrew Bogut had 19 and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Los Angeles shut down Milwaukee's top scorer, Redd, in the first half, limiting him to just 2-of-4 shooting and five points.

However, the seventh-year guard, who averaged 23.2 points entering the contest, led his team's comeback in the third quarter, scoring 10 points in 12 minutes - six coming on free throws.

"I was patient and Andrew was playing well, he was making things happen," Redd said. "I don't want to force anything. For me, I know I have to make things happen at the end of the game. Whether it is making a bucket or making the right pass, I love that responsibility and I love that challenge."

It wasn't certain if either team wanted to win, however.

Tied, 64-64, going into the fourth quarter, both teams shot poorly for most of the final 12 minutes. The Clippers were only 1-of-11 while the Bucks were 2-of-11 from the field.

That was when Redd took over the game, scoring 10 of the Bucks final 14 points.

Redd hit consecutive baskets, including a 3-pointer to give Milwaukee a four-point lead. His second shot from the arc of the quarter came with 1:41 to play and gave his team a five-point lead, 83-78, that the Clippers could not overcome.

"It was a very winnable game for us," Clippers forward Tim Thomas said. "We let Michael Redd get going in the second half and that pretty much killed us."

It was the second straight game Los Angeles went cold in the fourth quarter, making just 1-of-15 shots in a losing effort against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

"I thought we got a little bogged down in the second half and some shots didn't go and calls go against us, and it kind of snowballed," Dunleavy said. "That's one of the things I am trying to figure out myself, why we are shooting poorly in the fourth quarter. We've been struggling in that regard."

Forward Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 20 points while Thomas scored 11 of his 16 in the first half.