Bogut's good form continues + VIDEO

Australia's Andrew Bogut carried the load as Milwaukee avoided a potentially embarrassing loss to winless New Jersey in NBA action on Thursday, writes James Dampney for The Australian Associated Press.

The injury-plagued Nets have had a disastrous start to the season, losing their first 11 games heading into the road clash with a Bucks team that has proven far more competitive than most expected so far.

But the Nets played with plenty of enthusiasm to lead 40-29 midway through the second quarter and 48-41 at the main break.

A different Bucks team emerged after halftime, however, embarking on a 15-0 run to take control and roll to a 99-85 victory that took Milwaukee (6-3 record) back to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Bogut led the way with 21 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added 11 rebounds, both team-highs.

"We knew they would give us a good run for our money and we didn't play too well in the first half," Bogut said.

"But we steadied the ship in the third quarter, our defence was key in the second half and we got the win."

Carlos Delfino was another key for Milwaukee, scoring 21 points.

The undermanned Nets have lost 12 straight for their longest single-season losing streak in more than 19 years.

This one was painful because Chris Douglas-Roberts scored a career-high 31 points and had 10 rebounds, but the Nets blew their halftime lead by shooting 9 of 38 in the second half.

 

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