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Williams' big fourth quarter lifts Bucks to win

Jan 3, 2008 - 4:35 AM By Rick Menning PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) - Mo Williams and the Milwaukee Bucks took advantage of the lowly Miami Heat and ended their road woes.

Williams scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Bucks to a 103-98 victory over the Heat on Wednesday, ending their nine-game road losing streak.

The fifth-year point guard shot 9-of-14 from the floor and added nine assists for Milwaukee, which picked up just its third road win of the season and first in Miami since 2003.

"We moved the ball around well and did the things that you have to do to win in this league," Williams said. "We just have to realize what it takes to win and build on it."

Dwyane Wade had 27 points and eight assists and Ricky Davis scored 23 for Miami, which has lost five straight and trailed throughout the fourth quarter.

"They went to their zone and that stymied us for about three or four minutes and, during that time, they really opened up their lead," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "We aren't able to sustain an effort hard enough or long enough defensively."

Milwaukee went on a 15-3 run to take the lead for good at 80-68 with 8:38 to play. Williams, who scored six points during that run, hit his final five shots to hold off Miami's comeback attempt.

"We handled the pressure," Williams said. "They came at us pretty hard at the end, but we hung in there and got the win. This was a real good sign tonight."

With Dorell Wright joining Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Williams on the bench with injuries, the Heat staged a mild rally late in the game but could not overcome the Bucks' consistent offensive attack in the second half.

Miami trailed, 95-81, with 2:48 remaining, but a 10-2 run brought it within striking distance.

However, Williams ended any hopes of a comeback, hitting a clutch jumper with 50 seconds remaining after Miami had pulled within six at 97-91 with just over a minute left.

"It can't get any worse," Davis said. "You've just got to stay positive and keep working."

Making matters worse, Wade left the game briefly in the fourth quarter with a sore right shoulder as the Bucks maintained their double-digit advantage.

"He's really sore. He's doing everything he can do out there," Riley said. "There's just a lot of adversity right now."

It was a battle of two of the worst teams in the league. Both the Heat and Bucks had lost six of their last seven, with Miami having dropped 10 of its 14 games at the American Airlines Arena this season.

But the Bucks came out on top by shooting 52 percent (38-of-73) as six players scored in double figures.

"We had a lot of energy," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "All five guys on the floor were passing well and rebounding well, and in that fourth quarter it made a big difference. We showed some intensity tonight."

"We just need to keep fighting," said Heat forward Udonis Haslem, who added 10 points. "It's not just one game, it's a lot of games that we are not proud of the way we played. It's difficult."