Wizards ease past Bucks

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MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks are about as bad as the NBA has to offer.

Facing the Bucks without leading scorer Michael Redd (bruised thigh), the Washington Wizards (16-15) cruised to their easiest victory of the season, blasting Milwaukee 101-77 before 16,250 often-booing fans.

The win was the Wizards' largest road victory since they beat the Atlanta Hawks by 29 on March 16, 2005.

The win also was the Wizards' third in last five games, and it was quite a contrast to their game on Wednesday, when Detroit beat them at Verizon Center, and the Wizards were never really in the game.

This time, though, it was the Bucks' turn to play whipping boy, and they obliged for the full 48 minutes.

The Bucks didn't break 50 until the early in the fourth quarter, this after trailing by 30 points or more for the better part of the third quarter.

The Wizards held the Bucks to just 31 points in the first half, the lowest total by an opponent they in the first half this season.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said his team, which held the Bucks (12-20) to just 38.5 percent from the field, established the tone of the game in the first quarter.

After committing eight turnovers in the first quarter and scoring just 10 points, the Bucks ended the first quarter down 23-10 and were serenaded by bratwurst-eating boobirds.

Brendan Haywood, who finished with nine points, eight rebounds and four blocks, had two of his blocks in the first quarter.