The "new-look" Milwaukee Bucks made their debut Saturday night at the Bradley Center and it was quite a show.
It was the local fans' first glimpse at a Bucks roster that has been decimated by injuries to Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Luke Ridnour, and a determined group of Bucks that were in uniform took the Pistons into overtime before falling, 126-121. The Bucks had nothing to hang their heads about over this one.
Detroit's Rip Hamilton missed a jumper at the end of regulation and the game went into overtime tied at 109.
Guard Ramon Sessions hit a floater from the lane to open the extra period but a layup by Hamilton tied the game. Milwaukee's Richard Jefferson hit a jumper, but Detroit's Allen Iverson sank two free throws. Jefferson dropped in a short hook but a jumper by Hamilton tied the game at 115 with 1:42 left.
Sessions scored from the lane and Detroit's Rasheed Wallace scored on a rebound-drunk. Keith Bogans went to the line with 1:06 left for the Bucks and sank both free throws, but a three-point play by Iverson put Detroit ahead by one with 53.7 seconds. Sessions made two free throws with 46.1 seconds left, but Iverson answered with a short jumper for a 122-121 lead with 28.9 seconds left.
Bogans drove the baseline and missed and Detroit took a timeout with 15.2 seconds left. Hamilton made two free throws with 14.8 seconds left. Jefferson missed a three-pointer from the corner and Hamilton added two more free throws.
Sessions was outstanding and led Milwaukee with 44 points and 12 assists. Charlie Villanueva scored 33 points for the Bucks. Hamilton led Detroit with 38 points.
Minus the three starters, coach Scott Skiles went with a starting lineup consisting of guards Sessions and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, center Francisco Elson and forwards Villanueva and Jefferson. It was the 13th different starting lineup used by Skiles, who mixed and matched his combinations as the game wore on.
But such will be life for the Bucks in the weeks ahead as they adapt to new lineups and rotations.
"It's almost comical," said Jefferson of the Bucks injury situation. "Guys are kind of like, not laughing because you don't laugh at any injury, especially in this league, but it's also to the point where it's just like, 'Wow, this is almost to the point where it's funny'.
"They say when one person goes down, or two people go down, and everybody has to step up and do a little bit more in the areas where you need help. When a bunch of guys start going down, you just have to go out there and do everything. Just play hard. Put everything on the table. You can't hold anything back. I know that's a clich? but that's really what it is. Let the cards fall where they may."
As far as Skiles is concerned, it's business as usual. Injuries or no injuries.
"The script is the same, it's just that the actors have changed," he said.
The Pistons got 3 three-pointers from Rasheed Wallace, shot 50%, and led after one quarter, 30-19. The Pistons scored nine straight points to take an early 17-10 lead. Iverson (seven points) and Hamilton (six points) handled the rest of Detroit's scoring from there as the Pistons expanded their lead.
Bogans, obtained Thursday in a trade with Orlando, played the final 57 seconds of the first quarter and started the second. Milwaukee's Damon Jones started the second quarter at point guard, but got the ball stripped on the first possession by Hamilton who turned the steal into a layup and a 13-point lead. Getting 10 points from Villanueva, the Bucks came back to cut the lead to 41-39 with 5 minutes left but Hamilton scored seven points after that to give him 20 for the game and Detroit a 54-45 halftime lead.
A three-pointer by Wallace gave Detroit a 58-47 lead early in the third quarter but the Bucks then scored eight straight. But the Bucks didn't go away and regained the lead, 70-69, on a floater from Villanueva.
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