BUCKS 101, BOBCATS 96 Road construction Victories help build momentum for trip News Milwaukee Bucks

They were must-win games for the Milwaukee Bucks , who took care of business and won them both.

Facing a stretch in which they will play six of seven games on the road, the Bucks could hardly afford to lose either of their two home games this week. And, coming off a victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, the Bucks played just well enough down the stretch to defeat the stubborn Charlotte Bobcats, 101-96, Friday night at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks improved their record 9-12 and will be able to pack at least a bit of momentum for their three-game western trip that begins Sunday in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

"We have a big stretch coming up on the road so we had to get these two," said power forward Malik Allen, who started for the second straight game and responded with 10 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes before fouling out late in the game. "No matter what the situation was, we had to make sure everyone was ready to play, to get two wins at home before going out West. We had to. It was imperative that we took care of home."

Said guard Michael Redd: "It was necessary. It was definitely necessary before we went on the road again."

Redd led the Bucks 25 points in 42 minutes and forward Richard Jefferson made all 10 of his free throws and scored 22 points in 43 minutes. Jefferson scored nine points in the fourth quarter and came up with a big offensive rebound of a missed free throw by Charlie Villanueva that led to two free throws by Jefferson with 9.6 seconds left that accounted for the final score.

Center Andrew Bogut, who missed practice Thursday with a migraine headache, started and finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He drew a crucial offensive foul on Charlotte guard Jason Richardson in the final minute.

Richardson led the Bobcats with 20 points and center Emeka Okafor and guard Raymond Felton added 19 points each.

"We didn't play near as well as we did the other night," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "Especially on the defensive end. We were a step slow in the first half. But in the fourth quarter we moved around pretty well defensively and were able to get the lead. We made our free throws and got the offensive glass, so there were some areas where we did some things well and we were able to get the win."

Neither team led by more than seven through the first three quarters and the Bucks took a 76-74 edge into the fourth. The Bobcats scored seven straight points to take an 84-82 lead, but a jumper by Redd and a three-point play by Jefferson put the Bucks ahead. A three-point basket by Bobcats rookie guard D.J. Augustin tied the score at 87-87 with 6 minutes left.

Two free throws by Redd and a three-pointer by Luke Ridnour gave Milwaukee a 92-87 lead, and the Bucks led, 94-89, after two free throws by Jefferson with 1:45 left. A three-pointer by Felton cut the lead to 96-94 with 56 seconds left and Redd missed a jumper. Richardson drove the lane and scored but the basket was disallowed when he was called for his offensive foul with 21.5 seconds left.

Ridnour sank two free throws with 19.6 seconds left. Emeka Okafor scored inside with 12.1 seconds left, drew a foul on Charlie Villanueva, but missed the free throw. One free throw by Villanueva and two by Jefferson clinched it.

"When you play 82 games, not every game is going to be masterpiece," Skiles said. "So on nights when you're not quite as sharp as you would like to be, you've got to get the win. It's a lot easier, then, to look at the tape and look at things we need to do better. We're going to need to play a lot better just to win one game on the trip."