Bell, Bogut lead Bucks comeback at 'Cats

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-07 11:32

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Reserve Charlie Bell scored 27 points and Andrew Bogut added 25, including a short hook shot with 19 seconds left, to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 93-89 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.


Milwaukee Bucks' Yi Jianlian, of China, drives to the basket as Charlotte Bobcats' Nazr Mohammed, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 in Charlotte, N.C. [Agencies] 

Bogut's hoop capped Milwaukee's comeback from an eight-point deficit with 3:51 remaining. Mo Williams scored 17 for the Bucks.

Gerald Wallace scored 25 points for the Bobcats, who have lost three in a row and seven of nine. Jason Richardson added 21 points for Charlotte.

Milwaukee played without leading scorer Michael Redd, who missed his second consecutive game with a deep left thigh bruise. Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said the injury was day-to-day.

Bell, who went 0-for-6 as Redd's replacement in a Friday night loss to Washington, shot 11-for-18 from the field. He and Bogut combined to score 16 of Milwaukee's final 18 points of the game.

Charlotte built an 84-77 when Richardson posted up Williams for an easy score. But the Bobcats made only two more baskets in the final 4:48 and turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions in the final 1:34.

Charlotte turned the ball over 20 times, two nights after having 21 turnovers in a loss to New Jersey on Friday. A three-point play by Emeka Okafor gave the Bobcats an 87-79 lead before the Bucks came back.

Bogut hit two short hook shots in the lane, added two free throws, and Bell had a driving layup to pull the Bucks back into an 87-all tie. After a Charlotte turnover, the teams traded missed shots until Bogut again got position in the lane for an easy hook shot for an 89-87 lead.

Bell and Williams each sandwiched two free throws around Raymond Felton's basket for the final.

Milwaukee led the entire first half, by as many as 10 points, before Wallace's 3-point shot with 1.2 seconds left gave the Bobcats a 47-46 lead at halftime. A key 12-1 spurt in the third quarter helped the Bobcats build a nine-point lead before the Bucks began chipping away.



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