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Bucks look for first win without Villanueva vs. Pacers

Nov 18, 2006 - 4:57 PM Indiana (4-5) at Milwaukee (3-6) 8:30 pm EST

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Bucks are happy they traded for Charlie Villanueva in the offseason. Now they will try to pick up a win without the injured forward.

In their second game without Villanueva, the Bucks will host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday and try to get back on the right track.

After acquiring the 6-10 forward from Toronto in a trade for point guard T.J. Ford, Milwaukee announced Thursday that Villanueva has a torn ligament in his left elbow and will be sidelined at least four weeks.

The 22-year-old former college star at Connecticut suffered the injury in the second quarter of Milwaukee's 103-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. He was fouled hard by Atlanta's Josh Childress with just over six seconds remaining in the period and did not return for the second half.

On Wednesday, Mo Williams attempted to keep the Bucks in winning ways without Villanueva, scoring a season-high 26 points. But it was not enough as Milwaukee dropped a 100-87 decision to the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.

The Pacers had trouble with the Nets on Friday. Al Harrington led Indiana with 18 points, Jermaine O'Neal finished with 17 and Jamaal Tinsley added 16 in a 100-91 loss.

The setback was the third in a row and fourth in five games for the Pacers, who rallied from a 14-point deficit to take a 75-71 lead early in the fourth quarter to no avail.

The teams split last season's four meetings with the home team winning all four contests.