(My Sportsbook) - The
Milwaukee Bucks return to the Bradley Center on Saturday for the first of two straight home games when they host the woeful
Washington Wizards.
The Bucks suffered a tough loss in the Big Easy on Friday when Tyson Chandler provided the winning tip-in with 3.3 seconds remaining, as New Orleans beat Milwaukee 95-94 despite blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
Richard Jefferson had 22 points and Charlie Bell came off the bench for 21 more for the Bucks, who have dropped four of their last five games. Luke Ridnour added 14 points, but his long shot at the final buzzer was well off the mark.
Milwaukee is now just one-half game ahead of ninth-place New Jersey for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Bucks, who are 17-11 at home, will finish the quick homestand with a game against the Nets on March 3.
The Wizards, meanwhile, are coming off a solid win in the nation's capital on Friday. Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead eight double-digit scorers in that one, as Washington used a strong fourth quarter to hold on for a 113-90 win over the playoff-hopeful Chicago Bulls.
The game was delayed three minutes as President Barack Obama made his entrance into the building to watch the game. Although Obama was cheering for his hometown Bulls, the fans applauded him as he made his way to his court-side seat.
"We wanted to perform well in front of the president," said Jamison. "The most important thing was getting the win."
As for the game, all of Washington's starters scored in double-digits. Dominic McGuire also added a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards for the Wizards, who bounced back from a 106-98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Mike James and Caron Butler finished with 14 points apiece. Nick Young and Andray Blatche ended with 12 points each off the bench.
The Bucks have won three straight and four of their last five meetings with the Wiz, including a pair on contests this season. Washington is a miserable 4-23 as the visitor on the year.
