Missing Michael Redd, the Bucks need Bogut to keep this up. He got help inside from Hakeem Warrick, who had 11 points in the third quarter, and Dan Gadzuric, who also bothered Jefferson with some physical defense. The Bucks had a 36-22 advantage in paint points and outrebounded the Wolves 51-38.

As for Bogut's back?

"It's OK," said the shaggy-haired Aussie and 7-foot former first overall draft pick. "There were some speed bumps along the way, but it's normal. I haven't played basketball since January. ... It's been progressing, but there's still a long way to go."

The Wolves shot 5 for 18 in the second quarter. During the dreadful third, they went 6 for 18. The Bucks didn't lead until the third quarter, but they built their first 17-point lead just 2 1/2 minutes into the fourth.

The Bucks, who've played only one home game, took a good mood and a 2-2 record back to Wisconsin where they'll start a six-game homestand Saturday.

"The guys regrouped at halftime, and you could tell right when the ball was inbounded in the third quarter we were at least going to go for it," Skiles said. "We picked up our level of aggressiveness. It's a big win for us."

After winning their opener, the Wolves have lost five straight. Two straight close ones to the Clippers and Boston seemed to sap their effort. Flynn blamed himself for that second-half lapse, as the point guard.

"We came out stagnant as an offense, and that's a big thing in a system like the triangle," he said. "We have to keep moving. We have to keep the ball moving. We have to keep some type of energy."

Credit the Bucks, too.

"I believe Scott Skiles had something to do with that. I would've loved to hear what he had to say in the locker room," Flynn said.

NOTES: Redd, expected to miss two weeks, had his original diagnosis of a strained tendon in his left knee affirmed by a doctor, Skiles said. He'll be evaluated at the end of next week. "We're hoping that it's on the short end rather than on the long end, and we'll know a lot more when they look at it again," Skiles said. ... The 14 points in the third for Minnesota were a season low for any quarter.