NBA Game Summary - Atlanta at Milwaukee

02.13.2005

Milwaukee, WI (Basketball News) - Desmond Mason scored 23 points as Milwaukee cruised to a 113-83 victory over Atlanta at the Bradley Center.

Mike James added 18 points and six assists for the Bucks, who played without leading scorer Michael Redd but failed to miss a beat against one of the NBA’s worst road teams. Milwaukee held a deciding 58-35 halftime lead en route to its third straight win and fifth triumph in six outings.

Redd had a streak of 212 consecutive games played come to an end after spraining his left index finger in Wednesday’s win over Toronto. He had not missed a contest since April 16, 2002.

Antoine Walker compiled 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who have dropped five of six and fell to a dismal 2-21 on the road. Rookie Josh Childress had a career-high 20 points and also grabbed 10 boards in Atlanta’s 14th straight setback away from home.

"Our defense has been pretty good and tonight it was nonexistent," said Hawks head coach Mike Woodson. "We just didn’t compete."

The Bucks built a 13-point bulge during the first quarter courtesy of a 13-4 run late in the period. Six quick points from reserve Zaza Pachulia, the last being a dunk at the 2:53 mark of the stanza, put Milwaukee up 24-12. Desmond Mason capped the spurt seconds later by hitting a technical free throw.

Atlanta cut the deficit to 28-20 by the end of the quarter but fell behind 40-24 with seven minutes to go in the half following a 10-0 Bucks’ flurry highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from James. Another triple from James started a 13-2 run which gave Milwaukee a commanding 53-31 advantage with three minutes remaining before intermission.

Mason finished with 14 first-half points and James had 13 in the opening 24 minutes to fuel the hosts’ 23-point cushion at the break.

"A lot of guys stepped up," Mason said. "When you lose a guy like Mike, you definitely need to make sure you get some of that production from somewhere else. I think our bench guys came off and took care of that business."

The Hawks got to within 66-52 midway through the third quarter following an 11-0 run keyed by six points from Walker. Atlanta trailed by 15 late in the period before the Bucks scored the final 12 points of the quarter to put the game out of reach. Back-to-back buckets by Keith Van Horn, the last a three- pointer with 34 seconds to go, put Milwaukee up 86-59 heading into the final frame.

Atlanta activated forward Josh Smith from the injured list prior to the game and placed guard Kenny Anderson on the IL with a strained left hamstring. Smith started but managed just two points in 24 minutes and was 0-of-6 from the field...The Hawks last won on the road December 10 at Detroit...Milwaukee has won four in a row at the Bradley Center...Toni Kukoc replaced Redd in the starting lineup and recorded five points, seven rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes.

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