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Bobcats-Bucks Preview
Charlotte Bobcats at Milwaukee Bucks
- Charlotte lost, 100-98, to the Knicks on Wednesday -- its fifth straight setback in a row. The Bobcats are just 4-8 when scoring fewer than 100 points in 2012-13 (3-2 when scoring 100 or more).
- The Bucks lost, 110-99, to the Spurs in San Antonio on Wednesday -- their second straight and fourth setback in the last five games overall. Milwaukee is just 2-6 when allowing 100+ points this season (6-3 when allowing fewer than 100 points).
- The Bobcats won the first meeting of 2012-13 with the Bucks, 102-98, in Charlotte. Dating to January 3, 2009, these clubs have played 12 times and each has six of those contests.
- Kemba Walker netted 25 points and had 11 assists vs. the Knicks on Wednesday, recording his first double-double of the 2012-13 in the process. Walker is averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists in four career games vs. the Bucks.
- Monta Ellis scored 21 points and added 11 assists vs. the Spurs in Wednesday's loss, also recording his first double-double of the season. Ellis is averaging 20.8 ppg (4.2 assists) in 12 career games vs. the Bobcats.
- Entering play this weekend, Charlotte has played just six road games in 2012-13 -- tied for fewest of any NBA club.
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
(AP) -- Playing the team with the Eastern Conference's longest losing streak might be just what the Milwaukee Bucks need to break out of their recent funk.
The slumping Bucks will try to avoid losing for the eighth time in 10 games Friday night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats, who have dropped eight straight in Milwaukee.
After a 6-2 start, the Bucks (8-9) fell under .500 for the first time Wednesday night with a 110-99 loss at San Antonio.
Aside from a 91-88 win versus Boston on Saturday, Milwaukee (8-9) has lost four straight by double digits.
"They just went on a run and we couldn't get back in the game," coach Scott Skiles said after the team's latest defeat.
The Bucks have struggled to find consistency on offense, scoring 91.9 points per game during this stretch after averaging 101.0 in their first eight.
While he finished with a team-high 21 points against the Spurs, leading scorer Monta Ellis made just 5 of 19 from the field, leaving him at 24 of 73 (32.9 percent) over his last four games.
Ellis, though, will try to duplicate his performance from the last meeting in Charlotte on Nov. 19, when he scored a game-high 31 points. That wasn't enough, though, as the Bobcats won 102-98.
Brandon Jennings, who scored 14 points on 5 of 15 shooting on Wednesday, might also be able to find some open looks against a Charlotte team that has been burned from beyond the arc.
The Bobcats (7-10) have given up 75 3-point field goals (10.7 per game) in the last seven games and 8.8 3-pointers this season - the third-most in the NBA.
Jennings, who went just 5 of 18 from the field last month in Charlotte, has hit 14 of 25 (56.0 percent) from 3-point range in his last five games. He's only made 18 of 52 (34.6) inside the arc, though.
Mike Dunleavy, the team's other biggest 3-point threat, is questionable after sitting out Wednesday with a knee injury.
While they were one of the league's biggest surprises early in the season, the Bobcats have fallen on hard times with six losses in seven games.
Charlotte dropped its fifth in a row since equaling last season's win total when J.R. Smith hit a fadeaway jumper as time expired to give the Knicks a 100-98 victory Wednesday.
Kemba Walker, however, will try to carry over his hot shooting after finishing with 25 points and matching a career high with 11 assists against New York.
Walker, the team's leading scorer at 17.1 points per game, has 47 points in his last two games, but is averaging just 11.7 points on 30.9 percent shooting on the road.
Ben Gordon has also heated up, averaging 22.8 points while shooting 21 of 31 from 3-point range in his last four games after finishing with 17 and hitting three 3-pointers versus New York.
Charlotte, 27th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (41.8), has shown improvement recently with a 46.9 shooting percentage and a 28 of 60 (46.7) effort from beyond the arc in its last three games.
"We're playing everyone tough," coach Mike Dunlap said. "We're just not getting the results right now, but there's no reason to be down about this thing."
Ramon Sessions, who hurt the Bucks with 23 points in the first meeting, looks to break out of a 16 for 51 (31.4 percent) shooting slump.
The Bobcats snapped a two-game losing streak to the Bucks with their earlier win in Charlotte, but they're 1-13 all-time in Milwaukee.
Updated December 6, 2012
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