Bucks spoil Allen’s return

MILWAUKEE – Michael Redd scored 19 points and Joe Smith added 18 to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Seattle SuperSonics 106-91 on Tuesday night.

Bobby Simmons had 15 points for Milwaukee, which has won six straight home games.

Rashard Lewis scored 25 points and Ray Allen, who played six seasons with the Bucks, added 19 for the Sonics.

It was the sixth loss in seven games for Seattle.

It was the second time Allen had played in Milwaukee since being traded on Feb. 20, 2003, with Ronald Murray to Seattle for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. In his first trip back to Milwaukee last season, Allen scored 16 points, shooting only 4 for 16 from the field.

This time Allen, who was cheered during introductions, was 8 for 14, including three 3-pointers.

Milwaukee was leading 31-22 early in the second quarter before going on a 22-11 run to grab its largest lead of the half when Redd scored on a short jumper with 5 minutes left in the period.

The Sonics scored the next nine points to trim the lead to 53-42, but the Bucks scored six of the last eight points of the first half to grab a 59-44 halftime lead.

Seattle could get no closer than 11 in the second half.

With a 20-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Bucks rested Redd, Simmons and Andrew Bogut for the entire period.

Milwaukee point guard T.J. Ford left the game with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter with a midback bruise. He didn’t return and is listed as day-to-day.

Ford has missed six games since Dec. 30 with a left midfoot sprain and a left hamstring strain. He sat out the entire 2004-05 season with a bruised spinal cord.

The Bucks’ backup point guard, Mo Williams, missed his ninth straight game with a sprained left ankle.