Milwaukee Bucks Team Report - December 23

(Basketball News) - The Bucks’ downward spiral continued on Wednesday night, as they fell 104-95 to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Bradley Center.

Mike James paced the Bucks with 22 points, while Desmond Mason chipped in 16. Milwaukee, losers of five straight, has dropped six of its last seven home games.

Joe Smith had 14 points for the Bucks, while Kendall Gill and Dan Gadzuric each had 12 in the loss.

Portland outscored the Bucks, 28-22, in the first quarter and carried a 52-45 advantage into the locker room.

Zach Randolph’s pair of foul shots gave the Blazers a 73-53 lead with less than four minutes left in the third quarter. The Bucks closed the quarter with a 10-4 run, but the Blazers led 77-63 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Blazers continued to pour it on cruised to the nine-point win.

The Bucks dropped to 1-8 against the Western Conference this season.

Milwaukee has the next three days off before continuing its four-game homestand against Chicago on Sunday.