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Jefferson, Bucks shoot for three straight

Feb 3, 2009 - 3:23 PM Milwaukee (24-27) at New Jersey (21-27) 7:30 p.m. EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Richard Jefferson and the Milwaukee Bucks are attempting to continue a winning streak at the expense of some old friends.

The Bucks will be searching for their third straight win when they face the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday.

Jefferson spent the first seven years of his career with the Nets - helping the franchise to a part of Eastern Conference titles - before being traded to Milwaukee in the offseason as part of the deal that brought Yi Jianlian to New Jersey.

Jefferson struggled in the first meeting with his old mates, totaling 13 points on 3-of-15 shooting, but the Bucks still managed to scrape out a 104-102 win behind 24 points from Michael Redd, who was lost for the season due to a knee injury on January 24.

Charlie Villanueva has picked up the slack in Redd's absence, averaging 27 points over the last three games.

The Nets snapped a three-game slide at Philadelphia on Saturday, 85-83, as rookie Brook Lopez collected 24 points and 17 rebounds. Lopez was named Rookie of the Month for January after ranking first among rookies in blocks for the month with 1.81, second in rebounds at 7.9 and fifth in scoring at 14.9.

His play has helped mask the difficulties of Vince Carter, who managed just seven points in 26 minutes against the Sixers before leaving with a sprained ankle. He is expected to play on Tuesday.