Baker Sparkles, But Sonics Lose Milwaukee’s Starting Lineup Shares Scoring To Beat Seattle

Vin Baker’s return to Milwaukee had a great start and a fantastic finish. It just wasn’t enough to beat the Bucks.

Terrell Brandon, who came to Milwaukee in the three-way trade that sent Baker to Seattle, scored 20 points Sunday night and Milwaukee overcame Baker’s 29 points for a 97-91 victory over the SuperSonics.

Baker, who was traded to Seattle on Sept. 25, scored 11 of his team’s first 17 points after receiving a rousing ovation during introductions, winning the tip and scoring the game’s first basket.

Baker also scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, his final basket coming on a trademark turnaround fadeaway from the baseline that pulled Seattle to 91-89 with 52 seconds left.

“I’m happy that it’s over now, get the butterflies out,” Baker said of his return to the Bradley Center. “For a while out there, I was just coasting because I was so nervous. But it was great to be back home. It was great to hear those fans and those guys played a great ball game.”

Ray Allen also scored 20 points for Milwaukee. Armon Gilliam added 19 and 11 rebounds in place of Tyrone Hill, who missed the game because of a family medical matter, and Glenn Robinson scored 18.

“This was a good, solid win against a talented team,” Bucks coach Chris Ford said. “The whole starting five played tremendously.”

Baker won his first meeting against his former team when Seattle beat the Bucks 119-99 on Nov. 16 at Key Arena, and the Bucks were spoiling for the rematch because of all the Sonics’ trash-talking and showboating that night.

Bucks 97, SuperSonics 91

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Baker 39 12-23 5-7 5-11 0 6 29 Schrempf 39 4-14 5-6 4-10 4 4 13 McIlvaine 16 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 4 4 Hawkins 30 2-3 0-0 1-2 1 1 4 Payton 40 5-17 8-9 2-5 6 3 18 Ellis 23 3-7 2-2 1-1 0 0 9 Perkins 20 2-7 0-0 1-1 2 2 5 Williams 16 1-2 5-6 2-4 1 3 7 Wingate 9 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 Anthony 8 1-3 0-0 0-1 1 0 2 Totals 240 31-78 27-32 17-37 16 23 91<<

Percentages: FG .397, FT .844.

3-Point Goals: 2-14, .143 (Ellis 1-2, Perkins 1-5, Hawkins 0-1, Schrempf 0-2, Payton 0-5).

Team Rebounds: 8.

Blocked shots: 2 (McIlvaine 2).

Turnovers: 17 (Payton 7, Schrempf 3, McIlvaine 2, Baker, Hawkins, Ellis, Perkins, Williams).

Steals: 9 (Payton 4, Baker 2, Williams 2, Hawkins).

Technical fouls: Ellis, 2:15 third.

Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb MILWAUKEE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Gilliam 43 5-13 9-11 7-11 3 4 19 Robinson 33 9-14 0-0 2-3 1 6 18 Johnson 42 3-6 6-8 2-14 0 5 12 Allen 39 9-17 2-3 1-4 3 3 20 Brandon 42 8-19 4-4 2-7 13 2 20 Curry 18 1-5 2-2 0-0 0 2 4 Feick 14 1-1 0-0 1-2 0 2 2 Pierce 6 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 2 Lang 7 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 Perry 6 0-1 0-0 1-1 1 1 0 Totals 240 37-78 23-28 16-42 22 26 97

Percentages: FG .474, FT .821.

3-Point Goals: 0-6, .000 (Brandon 0-2, Allen 0-4).

Team Rebounds: 11.

Blocked shots: 10 (Johnson 6, Brandon 2, Gilliam, Robinson).

Turnovers: 18 (Johnson 5, Allen 4, Robinson 3, Gilliam 2, Curry 2, Feick, Lang).

Steals: 6 (Brandon 3, Robinson, Curry, Perry).

Technical fouls: None.

Illegal defense: None.

Seattle 27 21 23 20 - 91

Milwaukee 18 26 29 24 - 97

A-15,806 (18,717). T-2:16.