Wizards Drop 20th Road Game In A Row To Short-Handed Bucks

Keyon Dooling and Earl Boykins lead the short-handed Bucks over Washington who drops to 0-20 on the road this year after losing 100-87 to Milwaukee.

After what must be considered one of their most impressive wins of the year against the Utah Jazz, the Wizards continued their struggles away from the phone booth as they once again crumbled in the second half.

The Wizards started the game firing on all cylinders, forcing turnovers on defense and converting on the fast break. John Wall tallied seven assists without a turnover as Washington ended the first quarter up 27-19.

The lead and the game quickly got away from Washington as Boykins and Corey Maggette sparked Milwaukee giving them the lead with two minutes left in the half.  Boykins finished the game with 19 points and 4 assists as he came in off the bench to help get the Bucks stagnant offense. He and Maggette (21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) helped erase a 12-point deficit in the second quarter to cut the lead to two at the half.

Maggette, who made the first field goal of the game, also opened up the second half of scoring. But it was fellow Buck Keyon Dooling who erupted for 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting, including a pair of 3’s to open the half, that helped Milwaukee pull away.

Washington found themselves in the lead once again with five minutes left in the third when Wall found JaVale McGee for an alley-oop, putting the Wizards up 60-59.

Dooling immediately answered with a 3 and after another Washington turnover, Turkish Forward Ersan Ilyasova scored 2 of his 9 points off of an easy lay-up.

Milwaukee went on to outscore Washington 53 to 38 in the second half that included a disappointing effort from Wizards forward Rashard Lewis who only managed 8 points on 3 of 11 shooting.

John Wall got his 13^th double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 assists, but the first-year guard out of Kentucky struggled with his shooting as he only converted on 3 of 11 attempts.

Andray Blatche led all Wizards in scoring with 23 points to go with his 7 rebounds on the night. Nick Young contributed 21 points and tied his career high with 5 assists but Washington missed a golden opportunity to end their franchise worst 20 game road loosing streak.

Here is the only good highlight from the lost against the Bucks:

Milwaukee was without their star second-year guard Brandon Jennings who is still out with a broken foot. They were also missing starters Carlos Delfino (Neck Strain) and John Salmons (Hip). Andrew Bogut, the Bucks leading scorer at 13.1 ppg, was held to only 6 points on the night but his defense shined as Milwaukee’s reserves stepped up to fill the scoring void.

Washington forward Josh Howard sat-out for the 33^rd time this season because of complications from the knee injury he sustained last season. According to the Washington Post, Howard met with Dr. David Altcheck at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to receive treatment for tendinitis in his left knee earlier this week. There is no timetable yet for Howards return.

It’s been 285 days since the Wizards have won their last home game, which came against the Boston Celtics. The same team they’ll see on the tail of an upcoming two game home stand that starts with Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. Their next shot at ending their road losing streak will be against Amare Stoudemire and the Knicks, who trail only the Celtics in the Atlantic Division.