PLAY OF THE GAME: Biedrins' aggressiveness hurt the Bucks. In the second quarter, he outhustled the Bucks for an offensive rebound and fed Marco Belinelli for a three-pointer and a 53-45 lead.

STATISTICS SHEET: Michael Redd scored 15 of Milwaukee's 31 points in the third quarter.

OFF THE BENCH: Charlie Bell and Malik Allen did not play for the Bucks because of injuries, and rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute got another start at power forward.

UP NEXT

TEAMS: Bucks (9-15) vs. Indiana Pacers (7-14)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Bradley Center.

BROADCASTS: TV - None. Radio - AM-620.

NOTEBOOK

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: Bucks guard Tyronn Lue says he basically had a done deal to sign with Phoenix as a free agent last summer before the Bucks stepped in and persuaded him to sign with them. The Suns had offered Lue a one-year contract for $1.26 million, and Lue thought it would be a great situation for him to back up Steve Nash. But then the Bucks came in with an offer of $2.26 million and that, along with his friendship with Bucks general manager John Hammond, made Lue decide to sign with the Bucks.

"I thought it was done for a week or so (with Phoenix)," said Lue. "And then, last minute, I signed with Milwaukee."

Lue said that he has taken considerable grief from Shaquille O'Neal, his former teammate with the Lakers, for not joining him in Phoenix.

ON THE MEND: Bucks guard Charlie Bell reports that his bothersome ankle is feeling much better now that he has not played in the last five games. Coach Scott Skiles said that Bell probably shouldn't have been playing on the ankle when he was trying to fill in for the injured Michael Redd and that might have slowed down the healing process. Bell is hoping to play Saturday night against Indiana.

LEAGUE HIGH: The Bucks on Wednesday closed out their ninth pair of back-to-back games. The Bucks, Chicago, Memphis and Sacramento will play a league-high 22 sets of back-to-back games this season. Golden State will play the fewest (15).

Tom Enlund

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