Bogut, Bucks come back to beat Timberwolves 87-72

By DAVE CAMPBELL,

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Australia's Andrew Bogut gave the defense-first Bucks plenty of muscle at both ends with 17 points and 10 rebounds as Milwaukee used a third-quarter surge to top the Minnesota Timberwolves 87-72 on Friday.

Returning to form after a lower back injury cost him half of last season, Bogut was consistently aggressive at taking the ball to the rim and hounding Al Jefferson in the lane.

"He looks much more like himself. He's moving around well, facing up people," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "He's got a quick first step, is making some nice reads, some nice passes. We're going to him, and he's being productive right now."

Luke Ridnour had 16 points off the bench, offsetting the first bad game for Brandon Jennings, who went 4 for 16 from the field and finished with nine points against his friend and fellow rookie point guard Jonny Flynn. Jennings averaged 22 points over his first three games.

Ridnour had nine points in the fourth quarter and swished a 3-pointer with 6:23 remaining to match Milwaukee's biggest lead, 77-60, and keep Flynn - who had a career-high 20 points - from bringing Minnesota back like he did against New Jersey in the season opener.

"Andrew opens it up down there," Ridnour said. "Once a couple guys start hitting shots, confidence goes up."

Missing Michael Redd, the Bucks need Bogut to keep this up. He got help inside from Hakeem Warrick, who had 11 points in the third quarter, and Dan Gadzuric, who also bothered Jefferson with some physical defense. The Bucks had a 36-22 advantage in paint points and outrebounded the Wolves 51-38.

"It's OK," said the shaggy-haired Aussie former first overall draft pick. "There were some speed bumps along the way, but it's normal. I haven't played basketball since January. ... It's been progressing, but there's still a long way to go."

Updated November 7, 2009