Villanueva leads Bucks past SuperSonics
Despite coming off two self-described “terrible” games, Charlie Villanueva saw this coming.
Villanueva scored 32 points, his highest output in nearly two years, and had 11 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks scored a season-high 118 points to beat the Seattle SuperSonics 118-106 Wednesday night at Milwaukee.
“I was due, man. I was due,” said Villanueva, who combined to shoot 2 for 15 and score six points in his previous two contests, losses to San Antonio and Indiana. “That’s terrible. I’m a better player than that. I just tried to get out of that funk and just ball as hard as I can and try to give the team some energy.
“I give a lot of credits to my teammates, as well. They kept finding me and giving me the ball. Once I made a few shots, I knew I was going to be hot.”
Villanueva was, especially early. He scored 21 points in the first half for only the second 30-point game of his career. The other was for 48 points as a Toronto Raptors rookie at Milwaukee on March 26, 2006.
“Thirty-two in three quarters? I should have gone for 50,” Villanueva said. “Maybe next time.”
Andrew Bogut added 21 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Milwaukee, which was playing without guard Mo Williams and forward Yi Jianlian, out with minor injuries. Villaneuva, a reserve until replacing Yi in the starting lineup in early February, also tied his season highs in assists (three) and blocked shots (two).
Kevin Durant had 23 points for Seattle, which lost for the sixth time in seven games and dropped to 6-24 on the road.
“We hung in, but we didn’t defend,” Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “Charlie had such a good game, and we didn’t really solve that until the fourth quarter. They just shredded our defense.”
Johan Petro had a season-high 15 rebounds for Seattle, and Damien Wilkins and Earl Watson each scored 17 points.
Charlie Bell had 17 points for Milwaukee, and Desmond Mason added 16.
Oklahoma City moves closer
Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett had good news for NBA commissioner David Stern.
After passing a $121 million package to upgrade a downtown arena and build an NBA practice facility, Oklahoma City appeared to be moving closer to securing its first major pro sports franchise, but there’s still a waiting game before that dream can become a reality.
NBA owners will vote in mid-April on whether the Seattle SuperSonics can relocate to Oklahoma City, but even that won’t settle the issue. A trial is scheduled for June in which a federal judge will rule on whether the SuperSonics can break their lease before it ends in 2010.