Redd eyeing return for Bucks

The new year hasn’t been so kind to the struggling Bucks, but the return of star guard Michael Redd should be what the doctor ordered. Milwaukee is only 3-17 since the ball dropped in Times Square, while Redd has missed the last 18 games with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee.

Redd suffered the injury in a loss to the division-rival Cleveland Cavaliers on January 5, and the team is just 3-15 without him. Redd still leads the team in scoring (27.7), free throw percentage (84.1) and three-point percentage (35.5). He expects to play against mighty Dallas on Tuesday night.

Milwaukee could use some extra help against a Western Conference opponent after dropping its last eight games versus teams outside of the East. Denver handed the Bucks a 109-102 setback on Saturday, and was lucky to escape on top thanks to Milwaukee’s ineptitude to score.

The Bucks fought hard all night and eventually tied the game at 102 apiece with less than two minutes to go. However, they never scored again and the Nuggets reeled off the last seven points.

Before the loss to Denver, Bucks forward Ruben Patterson was averaging 27.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 steals over the previous two games. He then posted 13 points in the loss to the Nuggets.

Point guard Earl Boykins injured his right thumb in last Thursday’s loss to the Hornets, but has blocked out the pain with a splint. Boykins burned Denver, his former team, for 26 points and is averaging 21.5 points and 5.4 assists since the Bucks traded for him last month.

Milwaukee is last in the Central standings and will host Dallas on Tuesday before traveling to Boston on Wednesday. Maybe the Bucks can pull out a victory against the Celtics, who haven’t won since early January.