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Redd's late 3-pointer powers streaking Bucks to win

Feb 27, 2008 - 6:20 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Even in the weak Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks appeared left for dead, 15 games under .500 last week. Six days later, they look to be making a push.

Michael Redd scored 25 points, including a 3-pointer as time expired, to power the Bucks to a 105-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

After LeBron James tied the game at 102-102 on a layup with just under five seconds remaining, Redd took the inbound pass, drove effortlessly up the court and drilled a 27-foot 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to send the Bucks (22-35) to victory.

"When you have a tie game with five seconds left in a ballgame, that's a great time to just push it," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "(Wally Szczerbiak) stopped Redd five to seven feet behind the 3-point line. He just let it go and that's Michael Redd, he hit a whale of a shot."

"I knew how much time we had left," Redd said. "We had to make the attack. I know I needed to get it off quick. Mo (Williams) is known for hitting game-winners. Tonight, it was my turn."

James scored 35 points for the Cavaliers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

"Certainly playing the Cavs, one of the better teams in the league at this point, and LeBron having the night he had, it was tremendous (to win)," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "He had a terrific game, but it was just a fantastic shot by Mike. That was big-time."

Even though the Bucks suffered a road loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday, they defeated the Pistons at home Wednesday, 103-98, and posted an impressive 115-109 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

"This league is very much about momentum," Krystkowiak said. "Post All-Star Break, I was real pleased, obviously, with the win at home against Detroit and then to beat Denver in the capacity that we did. Tonight was big. Winning in the league is good medicine. It gives you some confidence."

Williams scored a season-high 37 points for Milwaukee, which notched its third straight home game over a possible playoff contender in the last six days.

With its third win in four games, Milwaukee moved three games behind eighth-place Philadelphia (25-32) in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

With the Bucks trailing 87-79, Williams followed a pair of free throws from Charlie Bell with 11 straight points. His last shot during that stretch completed the rally to knot the game at 92-92 with 5:14 left in the contest.

Andrew Bogut picked up the slack at that point, posting the next five points for Milwaukee.

While Williams was setting a blistering pace with 11 fourth-quarter points, the Cavaliers could not find their range, making just one field goal over a seven-plus minute stretch on a layup from James until Damon Jones drained a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining to cut the Bucks' lead to 99-98.

Williams was immediately fouled following a timeout and nailed a pair of free throws to increase the advantage to 101-98.

James countered with a layup with 10 seconds remaining to narrow the lead to one point. Redd hit second of two free throws after getting fouled on the next possession, setting the stage for the final theatrics.

"There is nothing you can do when a guy makes a 35-footer while fading away," James said. "We made plays to give ourselves a chance to win but a big shot cost us."

The Cavaliers were troubled by the fact that they gave up 25 fast-break points to a team that is not highly regarded for their ability to run the floor. They seemed even less happy being on the wrong end of a 37-14 disparity on the foul line.

"It's really, really mind-boggling to me," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "That's the only thing I question in the game. Otherwise, I give them (the Bucks) credit."