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Nets reunite with Jefferson against Bucks

Jan 9, 2009 - 11:46 AM New Jersey (18-18) at Milwaukee (17-20) 8:30 p.m. EST

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- When the New Jersey Nets attempt to move past .500 on Friday, they'll be looking at a familiar foe.

The Nets will be seeking to win their fourth in five games against Richard Jefferson and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Jefferson spent the first seven years of his career with New Jersey, making two trips to the NBA finals with a group that included Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin. But as the Nets continue to rebuild and get younger, Jefferson was shipped to Milwaukee over the summer in a deal that brought Yi Jianlian back.

Jefferson has done the same things for the Bucks that he did for New Jersey, scoring in bunches while providing athleticism and length at the swing spots. He is averaging 17.3 points per game and shooting a career-high 38.1 percent from the field.

Yi has been improving steadily for the Nets, averaging 10.8 points. He has scored 22 and 20 points in the last two games.

The player Jefferson and company may have to worry more about is Vince Carter, who has been on a tear. The former All-Star collected 25 points and 12 assists on Wednesday to lead New Jersey to a 100-89 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Nets are one of the few teams in the NBA that has played better on the road than at home this season, posting a 10-6 mark against an 8-12 record in East Rutherford.

The Bucks dropped a 110-105 decision to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday despite 27 points from Jefferson.