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Injury-plagued Bucks shoot down Rockets

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-10 16:09

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Houston Rockets for the first time in four years, with Ramon Sessions scoring 26 points in their 124-112 win on Monday.

Charlie Villanueva had 25 points and also grabbed eight rebounds to help Milwaukee snap an eight-game losing streak against Houston, despite an injury-plagued lineup.

Sessions also had seven assists and Richard Jefferson 25 points to help the Bucks end a two-game run of defeats.

Reserve Charlie Bell had 21 for the Bucks, who are missing three starters to injury as they attempt to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Villanueva said the injuries gave some of the team's reserves a chance to show what they could do.

"The opportunity is there," Villanueva told reporters. "There's a chance to play a lot of big minutes, just taking advantage of the opportunity and being consistent, too.

"It goes for all the guys."

The Rockets had won three of their previous four games but could not contain the Bucks' scoring, despite the absence of the Bucks 'top-scoring trio of Michael Redd (knee), Andrew Bogut (back) and Luke Ridnour (thumb).

'Will and heart'

"It just really shows the will and the heart of this team with all the injuries we've had," Bell said.

"Guys are still going out there playing hard and we're not giving up on this season."

Milwaukee (25-29) shot 53 percent and had a 22 point lead three quarters of the way to their easy win.

Houston got a career-high 23 points from Aaron Brooks, while Luis Scola and Ron Artest had 20 points apiece. Carl Landry added 16 for the Rockets. Yao Ming had just seven points and Tracy McGrady managed only three on 1-for-9 shooting.

McGrady appeared frustrated after the Rockets had allowed at least 104 points for the fifth successive road game.

"Right now, we're just a team that doesn't know how to play defense," McGrady said.

Houston coach Rick Adelman did not blame his top players for the loss, instead crediting the Bucks' effort.

"They shot it very well. They passed the ball well. They had 31 assists. They did everything they wanted to do," Adelman said.