Bucks at Nets
THE STORY: The Milwaukee Bucks are only one game out of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference and have looked strong in winning back-to-back games. The Bucks have taken three of their last four, with the lone setback coming by two points against the NBA-best Chicago Bulls. Ersan Ilyasova’s emergence as a scoring threat has helped Milwaukee break 100 points in three straight. Ilyasova’s breakout game came last month at the New Jersey Nets, when he put up an historic line of 29 points and 25 rebounds. The Nets could be without All-Star Deron Williams again Monday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Bucks), YES (Nets)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (17-24): Milwaukee is chasing the New York Knicks for the No. 8 spot and began its weekend with a 119-114 triumph over the Knicks on Friday. Instead of following that with a letdown, the Bucks built on that momentum Sunday, securing a 105-99 victory at Toronto behind 31 points and 12 rebounds from Ilyasova. The Turkish big man has put up 29.7 points over the last three games. Ilyasova’s 29 and 25 performance in a 92-85 victory on Feb. 19 marked the first time a Milwaukee player had gone for at least 25 points and 25 points since Dec. 19, 1976 (Swen Nater).
ABOUT THE NETS (14-28): New Jersey had Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries in the lineup during that Feb. 19 contest and still could not stop Ilyasova. Humphries will be on his own this time with Lopez nursing an ankle injury. New Jersey could also be without Williams, who left Friday’s game with a calf injury and did not play in Saturday’s 112-106 home loss to the Houston Rockets. Williams’ absence allowed some other players to shine, and Gerald Green turned in one of the highlights of the season with a windmill alley-oop dunk in which he leaped up to eye-level with the rim.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Green, who is on his second 10-day contract, scored a career-high 26 points on Saturday.
2. The Bucks are reportedly considering trading center Andrew Bogut before Thursday’s deadline.
3. Milwaukee has taken nine straight in the series.