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Miami Cooks Milwaukee

Thu 15th, January 2009

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Daequan Cook drilled six three-pointers and hit four clutch free throws down the stretch to polish off his 24-point effort, as the Miami Heat held on to upend the Milwaukee Bucks, 102-99.

Michael Beasley chipped in 21 points and the Heat won their third game in four tries despite an off-shooting night by star Dwyane Wade. Udonis Haslem added 18 points, and Shawn Marion logged 14 points and 10 rebounds for the victors.

Wade entered the game averaging a league-best 29.1 ppg, but the guard hit just 5-of-20 from the field for 17 points. Nonetheless, his 13 assists and Miami's 8-for-15 performance from behind the arc was just enough to pull out the win.

Luke Ridnour led the Bucks with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson contributed 16 and 15 points, respectively, as the Bucks have alternated wins and loss for the past dozen games.

Miami led comfortably throughout the fourth until the final two minutes of play.

Ridnour's teardrop cut the Bucks' deficit to four, 97-93, and Redd came up with an impressive one-handed offensive rebound on the next Bucks possession and hit a baseline jumper for a two-point difference.

Wade missed a shot on the other end and the teams exchanged turnovers before the Bucks called a timeout with 30.6 seconds left still down by a deuce.

Jefferson proceeded to drive the lane and was met by Marion, who skied for the block. Cook then hit two free throws, Milwaukee's Joe Alexander was given a easy bucket, and Wade missed 1-of-2 from the stripe with 14.6 remaining to keep it a three-point affair, 100-97.

Ridnour opted to get a quick two rather than attempt a tying three-pointer. His layup with 9.8 ticks remaining cut the deficit to one, and Cook sunk another two free throws before the Bucks' final possession.

"With the way that Milwaukee packs the paint he made them pay for it with the way he shot the ball," said Wade of Cook. "We gave him a hard time for the way he played last night, but he stepped up tonight."

Alexander, who had a solid game with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists, controlled the ball at the point and tried to shake his defender. His efforts yielded little effect, as his rushed attempt from downtown failed to hit the rim and the buzzer sounded for another tough setback for the hosts.

Cook's four three-pointers carried the Heat to a 28-24 lead after 12 minutes of action.

"We couldn't say connected to him for some reason," said Redd. "He just kept hitting three after three. That's my young fellow from Ohio State, but tonight that was my enemy."

The Bucks rallied from a seven-point deficit late in the second, scoring eight of the final nine points in the stanza to tie the game, 55-all.

Miami came out of the break and stopped Milwaukee's momentum by scoring the first nine points of the third, eventually taking an 80-73 lead into the final frame.

Game Notes

Andrew Bogut finished with 12 points and 11 boards for the Bucks, who shot 49.4 percent from the field but just 3-for-14 from behind the arc...Miami made 18-of-24 from the free throw line, compared to a 10-for-14 effort from Milwaukee...Wade has been held under 20 points just six times this season, the last occurring December 15 against the Bucks.