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Williams' 32 points help Bucks topple Grizzlies

Feb 6, 2008 - 5:12 AM MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Mo Williams took charge in the final moments for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Williams scored 10 of his 32 points with less than two minutes left as the Bucks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 102-97, on Tuesday.

Charlie Bell scored 17 points and Charlie Villanueva had 16 and a season-high 16 rebounds for Milwaukee, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

"We really needed to get some guys shooting, and Mo was really on a mission," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "He really got it revved up and got his flow going."

The Bucks, who also swept the two-game season series against the Grizzlies, have won four straight vs. the Grizzlies.

"I had one thing on my mind, just to play," Williams said. "I play my best when I let my instincts take over. A road win is always good, and we've been searching for them all year. We really like this feeling."

Memphis, which has dropped four in a row, played its third consecutive game without former star Pau Gasol, who was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday.

"We've got 34 more games left, and we are going to try to win all 34 games," Grizzlies swingman Mike Miller said. "It is going to be tough but, at the same time, it is our job to go out there and win games."

After Miller drilled a 21-foot jumper with 2:45 left to give the Grizzlies a 95-90 lead, Milwaukee went on a 12-2 run to finish the game.

"I think we had a four-point lead down the stretch, and we could not close it out," Grizzlies coach Mark Iavaroni said. "That has been our problem this entire year, except for some of the games when we've done a nice job down the stretch and, obviously, pulled it out against teams like Orlando, San Antonio and Houston.

"But I think you remember more the close losses and, unfortunately, this was one of them."

Williams, who connected on 14-of-22 from the floor, made an eight-foot jumper with 1:59 left to cut the Bucks' deficit to 97-94.

"We should have trapped (Williams) earlier," Iavaroni said. "We should have gotten the ball out of his hands earlier. That was my mistake. He did a good job down the stretch."

Williams' 20-footer with 64 seconds remaining put Milwaukee up by one.

"Mo hit some big shots for us tonight," Villanueva said. "He's a big-time player, and he showed that tonight."

With Memphis trailing 100-97, Rudy Gay missed a game-tying 3-pointer with six ticks on clock before two foul shots by Williams iced the game.

"I had a perfect look at (the basket)," Gay said. "Usually, I would knock it down, but not today."

Andrew Bogut scored 12 points for the Bucks, who shot 48 percent (44-of-92) and outrebounded the Grizzlies, 48-35.

"Rebounding is really one of their weaknesses, and I hit the boards hard tonight," Villanueva said. "That's where I get a lot of my points is off rebounds."

Miller scored a season-high 32 points and Gay scored 21 for Memphis, which shot 47 percent (36-of-77) and has dropped four straight at FedEx Forum.

"The Bucks got a lot of offensive rebounds," Miller said. "Your defense can only stop them so many times. When you are playing NBA teams, and you give them room to get to the basket they are going to make it."