Bucks vs. Nets Preview
East Rutherford, NJ – Michael Redd has struggled at times in his return from knee surgery, and the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t experienced much success with him on the court.
Redd, though, had one of his best performances in helping the Bucks win their most recent game. He’ll next try to help them earn back-to-back victories for the second time since Thanksgiving on Tuesday night at the woeful New Jersey Nets.
Oddsmakers from Online Sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com have made the Bucks –1.5 point spread favorites for Wednesday’s game against the Nets. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 71% of more the 204 bets for this game have been placed on the Bucks –1.5.
Redd missed the final 35 games of the 2008-09 season after tearing two ligaments in his left knee, and appeared in only five of the first 21 this season before making his latest return Dec. 12.
The former All-Star swingman has averaged 13.3 points over those 10 games and been held under 10 five times in that span. Before Saturday night’s game against visiting Oklahoma City, Redd had scored a combined 14 points on 5-of-25 shooting in the three previous contests.
Until a 103-97 overtime win over the Thunder, the Bucks were 3-11 when he played and 9-7 when he didn’t, but Redd scored 27 points – including the team’s first six in overtime – to help them snap a four-game slide.
"I’m getting used to playing basketball again. Period," Redd said. "Tonight was a good night. A good step for me."
The Bucks (13-18) will try to take their own step with their second win streak since Nov. 21. After a surprising 8-3 start, Milwaukee has dropped 15 of 20, with its only back-to-back wins coming Dec. 9 and 12.
The Bucks are hoping to match that by taking advantage of the league’s worst team again. They beat the Nets 99-85 at home Nov. 18 to launch a three-game win streak.
Redd missed that game against New Jersey (3-30), but Carlos Delfino and Andrew Bogut scored 21 points apiece. Chris Douglas-Roberts led New Jersey with a career-high 31, and rookie Terrence Williams added a season-best 20.
The Nets have gone 1-5 on their season-high seven-game homestand, which ends Tuesday. They couldn’t follow up a victory from Dec. 30 over the Knicks, falling to Cleveland 94-86 on Saturday.
Devin Harris and Brook Lopez combined for 42 points, but only two other players scored more than nine as the team shot 38.7 percent. The Nets stayed competitive by holding the Central Division-leading Cavaliers to a 39.5-percent performance, a positive sign for coach Kiki Vandeweghe.
"We kept playing hard defense (and) we stopped them," Vandeweghe told the team’s Web site. "I’m encouraged, but you’ve got to take this as a learning experience knowing this is one of the best teams in the NBA."
New Jersey could get a boost with the expected return of forward Jarvis Hayes, who has missed 32 games with a strained left hamstring.
In addition to its win earlier this season over the Nets, Milwaukee also snapped a six-game slide in New Jersey with a 107-78 victory March 30.
The Bucks, however, are 3-11 on the road this season and have dropped consecutive games there.
Posted: 1/5/09 12:35AM ET