Jefferson scores 22 points in Bucks' win

MILWAUKEE(AP) After playing an NBA-high 18
road games, the Milwaukee Bucks took full advantage of the road-weary
Los Angeles Clippers.Richard Jefferson scored 22 points, and Luke Ridnour added 18 to help Milwaukee beat Los Angeles 119-85 on Saturday night."We
certainly don't want to feel sorry for anybody else's schedule after
what we've been through,'' Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said after his
team's 11th home game.Playing its fourth road game in five nights, Los Angeles missed its first six shots while the Bucks made 11 of their first 14.The Clippers only trailed 16-10 to start the game, but Milwaukee outscored Los Angeles 46-22 and led 62-32 at halftime."This
is the biggest win we've had since I've been here,'' said Andrew Bogut,
in his fourth season with the Bucks. "So, it's nice to be actually
sitting (on the bench) in the fourth quarter for once.''Al Thornton scored 20 points for Los Angeles in its worst loss of the season."Everybody
is tired,'' Thornton said. "Everybody in the league has back-to-back
games. We need to find it deep down and be able to compete better than
that.''Zach Randolph, the Clippers' leading scorer at 22.9
points, was held to four points. He missed his first seven shots and
was scoreless until making a hook with 9:23 left in the third quarter.Los
Angeles had played two consecutive overtime games in three nights, last
beating Indiana 117-109 on Friday night in double overtime."It definitely took a toll on us,'' Randolph said. "We have the most minutes in the league as starters so it has been tough.''Baron
Davis, the team's second-leading scorer at 18.4 points, missed seven of
nine shots and had 10 points. Steve Novak had nine of his 14 points in
the fourth quarter.Michael Redd had 14 points, while Luc Mbah a
Moute, Bogut and Dan Gadzuric had 12 apiece for Milwaukee, which has
won four of five.The game started a stretch where Milwaukee has seven of 10 at home.Redd
missed 14 games early in the season, and Jefferson said he thought the
Bucks were starting to play better now that their leading scorer was
back in the lineup."People don't understand, they talk about the
road games, but we (also) were in China for the preseason,'' he said.
"Now, we're starting to get healthy and things are starting to come
around.''It was the 14th road game for Los Angeles, compared to
13 home games, but it was the Clippers' ninth road game in 11 December
contests.Milwaukee dominated from the opening tip, making 15 of
its first 20 shots, using a 21-5 run to close the opening quarter for a
37-15 lead."We knew their starters played a lot of minutes
(against Indiana),'' Ridnour said. "We knew it would be an energy game
and we came out with more energy than them, and jumped on them from the
start.''It was Milwaukee's second consecutive blowout victory. The Bucks beat the New York Knicks 105-81 on Friday night.Notes:
Los Angeles went 2-2 on its trip. ... Clippers rookie G Eric Gordon met
with Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson before the game, the first time
they were together since leaving Indiana for the NBA. Gordon said their
chat went well and they did not discuss the turmoil they faced at
Indiana. ... Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said rookie G Mike Taylor
likely will miss six weeks after fracturing his thumb Friday night
against the Bulls.