Redd, Ford help Bucks beat Blazers again

PORTLAND, Ore. - Michael Redd and the Milwaukee Bucks didn't let up in their second game against the Portland Trail Blazers in three days. Redd had 23 points and T.J. Ford added 19 points and 10 assists to help the Bucks knock off the Blazers 100-93 Monday night. Zach Randolph had 23 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who have lost five straight, but also fought back from a 15-point deficit to cut the lead to one with just under 2 minutes left. "It's the end of the season and teams aren't going to give up," Ford said. "Guys still have a lot of respect for themselves and the organization and the fans. Whether or not a team has a chance for the playoffs or not, they're still going to fight." Bobby Simmons had 16 points and Charlie Bell added 13 off the bench for the Bucks, who beat Portland 97-93 Saturday night in Milwaukee. The Bucks, seventh in the Eastern Conference — one-half game behind Indiana — have won four of their last five games. Joel Przybilla had 13 points and 12 rebounds and Steve Blake had seven points and nine assists for the Blazers, who have the worst record in the Western Conference and are 3-19 since Feb. 4. "We can't put together 48 minutes," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "We're saying the same thing every single night and every single day. It's just drama." After going into halftime tied, the Bucks outscored Portland 31-16 in the third quarter. The Blazers rallied to get within one with 1:49 left, but Milwaukee closed the game on a 6-0 run. Andrew Bogut had 11 points for the Bucks, and rookie Martell Webster had 11 for Portland. The Bucks took an 18-9 lead, but Sebastian Telfair made a 3-pointer and Randolph made two 3s as Portland fought back to take a 24-23 advantage just before the end of the first quarter. The Blazers were 6-for-15 on 3-pointers and had just three turnovers in the first half, tying the score at 51 just before the break. Portland fell apart in the third quarter, with defensive breakdowns and bad shots. Redd, who scored 33 points in Saturday night's win over the Blazers, converted a reverse layup that made it 69-63 and started a 13-2 run that culminated in Bell's long 3-pointer to make it 80-65. Portland picked up the tempo in the fourth and steadily worked down the lead. Juan Dixon scored eight of his 10 in the quarter, and the Blazers went on a 9-0 run that cut the lead to 94-93 on a 3-pointer from Blake. The Bucks closed out the game with a 6-0 run. "Portland has a lot of talent on their team," Milwaukee's Jamaal Magloire said. "Their talent speaks more than their record." McMillan said the Blazers lacked effort and focus for long stretches in the game. "This is the NBA. It is not a rec league," he said. "I should not have to ask for focus or hard play from anyone. ... You're down by 15 and get back in the game by playing scrappy, playing hard. I'm wondering where that is at for 48 minutes." -AP