With their two stars -- shooting guard Michael Redd and center Andrew Bogut -- having missed a good portion of this season, the Bucks have had trouble surviving, much less thriving.

With Redd out of the lineup -- he underwent surgery for torn ACL and MCL ligaments -- the Bucks have posted a 14-27 record this season -- a .340 winning percentage.

With Bogut out of the lineup -- he has a stress fracture in his lower back -- the Bucks have gone 12-26 (.320).

When both Bogut and Redd haven't been able to play at the same time this season, the Bucks have posted a pathetic 7-22 mark -- .a .240 winning percentage.

BUCKS 107, NETS 78: The Bucks, unlike the Nets, came to play Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J. The Bucks played near flawless basketball in the first quarter in racing to a 32-13 lead. Former Nets small forward Richard Jefferson led the Bucks' first-period surge with 10 points and had 19 by halftime, when the Bucks held a commanding 60-37 advantage. Jefferson finished with 29 points in 28 minutes as the Bucks snapped a five-game losing streak. Charlie Villanueva contributed 20 points. The victory improved the Bucks' record to 32-43 and moved them within four games of the Bulls for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.