The AP reports: Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 10 assists and the Celtics coasted to a 102-86 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night. The Bucks made more moves off the court than on it: They announced the hiring of former Pistons vice president John Hammond as general manager during the third quarter… Kevin Garnett scored 12 points with eight assists, leaving with 5:30 left in the third and Boston leading 72-47… Michael Redd scored 18 for the Bucks, Andrew Bogut had 14 and Ramon Sessions scored eight with 14 assists as the Bucks lost their fifth consecutive game. Michael Ruffin had nine rebounds off the bench despite a sprained ankle.

John Hammond has been named General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced tonight.  Hammond brings over 29 years of basketball coaching and administrative experience to the Bucks and spent the past seven seasons in the Detroit Pistons organization as the Vice President of Basketball Operations. 
 
“We are pleased to have John Hammond assume leadership of our basketball operations, effective immediately,” Bucks President Herb Kohl said.  “He is a proven NBA talent who has played an essential role in a winning NBA organization.  We look forward to John’s contributions to our franchise.”
 
During Hammond’s seven seasons in Detroit, the Pistons won 50-plus games for all seven seasons, won six Central Division titles, made five consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances (2002-03 through 2006-07), and amassed an overall record of 330-158 (.676), including a league-best 64 wins during the 2006-07 season.  The Pistons also made two NBA Finals appearances (2004, 2006) and won an NBA Championship (2004) during his six seasons as vice president.
 
“I want to thank Senator Kohl for the opportunity to be the general manager of the Bucks,” said Hammond.  “I had the pleasure of working under one of the best executives in the game today in Joe Dumars and I thank him for the opportunity he gave me to be a part of Detroit’s winning tradition.  The Bucks are a history-rich franchise with amazing fans and I look forward to the challenge of bringing a championship back to Milwaukee.”
 
Hammond’s recent stint with the Pistons was his second.  His association with the franchise began in 1994 when he was hired as a scouting director.  Doug Collins appointed him as an assistant coach in 1997, a position that he remained in until 1999.  When Alvin Gentry replaced Collins as Detroit’s head coach, Hammond was appointed as his top assistant.  Detroit made three playoff appearances during Hammond’s tenure as an assistant coach (1996, 1997 and 1999), winning 54 games during the 1996-97 season. 
 
The 53-year-old Hammond worked as a lead assistant coach under Gentry for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2000-01 season, his second tour of duty with that club.  He also worked for the Clippers from 1990-93 as an assistant coach to Larry Brown.  The team made two consecutive playoff appearances (1992, 1993) during that time.  Hammond began NBA career in 1989 as an assistant coach and scout with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, helping assemble their roster during the team’s inaugural season.
 
Prior to entering the NBA ranks, Hammond spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State where he helped lead the school to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths (1986, 1987 and 1988) and an NIT invitation in 1985.  He also spent two seasons at Houston Baptist (1981-83), two seasons at Nebraska (1979-81) and three seasons at the high school level in the state of Nebraska.
 
Hammond is no stranger to the west side of Lake Michigan.  He grew up in Zion, Illinois and attended Greenville College in Illinois where he earned his Bachelor’s degree while lettering twice in basketball and serving as a student assistant coach.

The AP reports: Chris Bosh did his part to end Toronto’s slump. He would like the fans to do theirs. Bosh had 32 points and 11 rebounds and the Raptors ended a three-game losing streak with a 111-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Anthony Parker added 18 points for the Raptors, who have struggled despite clinching a playoff spot last week. Toronto lost 15 of its previous 21 games. Fans booed the Raptors after their last home loss and didn’t make much noise Wednesday night. “It was quiet. Could you hear yourself talk?” Bosh asked reporters… Former Raptor Charlie Villanueva had a season-high 38 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers. He scored 25 of Milwaukee’s first 29 points.

The AP reports: Sure, Doc Rivers could have summoned his Big Three off the bench to reclaim the big lead they’d built earlier in the game. All three Boston Celtics stars certainly wanted to get back on the floor. But Rivers didn’t want to play them in the first place on Tuesday, so he decided to let his reserves handle what suddenly had become an unexpectedly close game. It took overtime, but Boston’s bench managed to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-104… Bucks center Andrew Bogut provided some comic relief from what has become a lost season for Milwaukee, joking about his triple-double Tuesday—points, rebounds and turnovers. “My offense was terrible,” Bogut said. “I felt like a little kid out there.”

The AP reports: Reserve point guard Travis Diener scored 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-97 Sunday night. Diener, who averages seven points per game, made five of six 3-pointers in the final period. “It was big time for us,” said Danny Granger, who led the Pacers with 27 points… The Pacers shot 5-for-23 shooting in the third quarter, but 13-for-21 in the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit… Mike Dunleavy had 17 points and seven assists and Jeff Foster had a season-high 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Pacers, who have won eight of 11. Redd led Milwaukee with 24 points and Charlie Villanueva added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who have lost six of eight. Bucks point guard Mo Williams sat out with an abdominal injury.

The AP reports: Mike Dunleavy had 27 points and 11 rebounds and the Pacers kept their faint postseason hopes alive by edging the Milwaukee Bucks 105-101 on Friday night… Ramon Sessions came off the bench to spark the Bucks in the closing seconds with two layups and a free throw. Michael Redd, who led Milwaukee with 28 points, converted a layup with 11.4 seconds left to cut Indiana’s lead to three, but Dunleavy made one of two free throws to seal the victory… Troy Murphy scored 17 points and Danny Granger added 13 for Indiana, which has missed the playoffs the last two seasons… Andrew Bogut added 21 points and 16 rebounds for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Bucks Director of Player Personnel Dave Babcock announced today that rookie forward Yi Jianlian (7-0, 238) will miss the remaining eight games of the season after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee during the Bucks win over Washington on Wednesday, April 2.
Yi, 20, underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exam yesterday afternoon. After evaluation and further testing by Bucks orthopaedic physician Dr. John Heinrich, M.D., it was determined that a period of 2-3 weeks will be needed to rest and rehabilitate his injured knee before returning to basketball activity.
In 66 games this season (49 starts), Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes. Among rookies who qualify, he ranks T-7th in scoring, 5th in rebounds, 2nd in free throw percentage (.841), 5th in blocked shots (0.85) and 7th in minutes played.
Yi was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December when he averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots in 16 games. He scored a season-high 29 points in the Bucks 103-99 win over Charlotte on December 22.

The AP reports: With Gilbert Arenas back on the floor, the Washington Wizards fell apart in too many ways to count in the fourth quarter. Forget all his dramatics: Agent Zero had the show stolen by a rookie making his first NBA game-winner. Ramon Sessions hit a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer Wednesday night to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 110-109 victory over the Wizards, who left the game with severely bruised egos and new injuries to Antawn Jamison and DeShawn Stevenson… Charlie Villanueva had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, whose celebration took some of the sting from the news that they were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by Atlanta’s win over Toronto… Butler and Jamison scored 18 points apiece for the Wizards, who missed a chance to clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth.

The AP reports: Bobby Simmons scored a season-high 24 points and Michael Redd added 36 in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 119-115 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday… Andrew Bogut, who missed the last two games because of a broken nose, chipped in with 24 points and 13 rebounds for Milwaukee… New York’s Quentin Richardson scored 22 points and Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford each added 19. The Knicks lost their fifth straight road game and are 2-15 in their last 17 games.

The AP reports: Joakim Noah had a season-high 18 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Bulls to a 114-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night after nearly squandering a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Bulls couldn’t hold an 18-point lead earlier in the month at home against the 76ers and dropped a game to the Wizards after leading by 20 points in the second half… Larry Hughes scored 19 points and Luol Deng added 16 to help the Bulls win for just the fourth time in 12 games. Chicago pulled 3 1/2 games behind eighth-place Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Michael Redd scored 33 points to lead the Bucks, who lost for the 12 time in 14 games in March. Charlie Villanueva scored 15 of this 26 points in the third quarter, and Mo Williams added 13 points for Milwaukee.