Michael Redd hot as Bucks blitz Nets

Redd shot 12-of-20 from the floor and 14-of-17 from the foul line for the Bucks, who fell behind by 16 points in the first quarter before overwhelming the Nets the rest of the way. Milwaukee, now off to an impressive 2-0 start to the young season, also received a personal-best 23 points off the bench from Maurice Williams and 21 from T.J. Ford.

No. 1 overall pick Andrew Bogut chipped in 10 points and a game-high 17 rebounds in the win.

Vince Carter scored 25 points to highlight an otherwise disappointing season- opener for New Jersey, considered one of this year’s prime contenders in the Eastern Conference. Richard Jefferson recorded 18 points and eight rebounds before being ejected in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks appeared tired from Tuesday’s 117-108 overtime triumph at Philadelphia, as Milwaukee missed 12 of its first 13 shots and was whistled for seven fouls in the first six minutes. The Nets took advantage by jumping out to a 15-3 lead.

New Jersey’s margin grew after Jason Kidd fed Nenad Kristic for a short hook to make the score 21-5 with 3:55 left in the first quarter.

Ford’s driving layup to end the opening period brought the Bucks within 29-17, and Milwaukee began the second with an 8-2 run capped by Williams’ three pointer at the 8:10 mark to shave its deficit to six.

The Bucks continued to chip away and pulled to 46-42 on a Redd three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Ford’s triple right before the buzzer after Bogut intercepted an errant pass by Kidd would close the gap to 48-46 at intermission.

Ford finished the first half with 13 points.

Redd then took over in the third quarter, pouring in 17 points during the session. His three-pointer four minutes into the second half staked Milwaukee to its first lead of the night at 53-50.

New Jersey would respond and went up 64-61 on Jason Collins’ layup off a nifty pass from Jefferson with 3:29 left in the third. However, Redd keyed an 10-0 spurt with a conventional three-point play and ended the run with another triple to give the visitors an eight-point cushion late in the period.

Redd’s second-chance bucket in the final seconds put Milwaukee ahead 73-65 heading into the last 12 minutes.

A three-point play by Ford followed by two Redd free throws lengthened the lead to 85-69 with eight minutes to play, and the Nets never got within single digits thereafter.

Jefferson was tossed with 4:45 to go after shoving Ford with both players running down the court. Williams was given a technical on the play after pushing Jefferson after the whistle.

Kidd compiled 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the setback.

Game Notes

Milwaukee shot 9-of-19 from three-point range, with Williams hitting 4-of-6 shots from beyond the arc...Jefferson was appearing in his first regular- season game since January 29. He missed 49 contests after undergoing wrist surgery but did return for the Nets’ first-round playoff series loss to Miami...Redd’s previous career-best was 40 points, which he accomplished two times...The Bucks have won six of the last seven meetings between the clubs...New Jersey fell to 13-16 all-time in season openers and 15-15 in home openers.