The Bucks can't wait to usher in a new year -- especially from a scheduling standpoint.
After playing a brutal schedule during the first two months of the season -- the Bucks played 20 of their first 32 games on the road after a preseason trip to China -- they are undoubtedly looking forward to having a highly favorable schedule in January. The Bucks will play 18 games in January, 13 of them against teams with sub-.500 records. In fact, the Bucks' first seven games in January will be against teams with losing records, starting Friday night against the Bobcats at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. The Bucks' next game against a team with a winning record isn't until Jan. 14, at home against Miami.
ROCKETS 85, BUCKS 81: Despite playing rather poorly for most of the game, the Bucks still had a chance to pull off their second consecutive upset Wednesday night in Houston. The Bucks, who trailed by 11 points at halftime, squandered two opportunities in the final minute to take the lead against the Rockets. Trailing 78-77, Bucks guard Michael Redd barely missed a 3-point attempt. Then, after Houston's Ron Artest made a free throw, Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour missed a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining. The Bucks, coming off a win Tuesday night in San Antonio, managed to stay close despite turning the ball over 17 times in the game. Redd finished with a team-high 20 points.
