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Bucks beat the Knicks

They have broken their two game losing streak. MILWAUKEE, Dec. 30 (Ticker) -- Maurice Williams and Bobby Simmons kept the Milwaukee Bucks perfect against the Atlantic Division. Williams, who started in place of the injured T.J. Ford, scored 30 points and Simmons added 18 - including two big baskets down the stretch - in the Bucks' 113-108 victory over the New York Knicks. Familiar with replacing Ford, who is sidelined with a sprained left foot and missed the entire 2004-05 season, Williams made 11-of-17 shots to go along with six rebounds and five assists. "I don't know if I expected 30 (points), but Mo (Williams) played tonight the way he's been playing all year," Bucks coach Terry Stotts said. "He picked his shots. Scoring 30 points on 17 shots is pretty efficient. He does a nice job picking up his penetration. I thought he did a good job taking whatever the game was giving him. He did what he needed to do from the point guard position. He took the shots that were there and made the quick passes. It was a good all-around game." "When I'm out there with T.J. (Ford), it's different, but with T.J. gone I need to make sure I get everyone involved," Williams said. "We were shooting the ball well today, and I got into a good rhythm." The 6-1 Williams made a pull-up jumper with 3:58 remaining to give the Bucks a 97-92 lead. Simmons' baseline jumper gave Milwaukee three-point lead with 2:53 to go and his breakaway dunk after Jamal Crawford's quick shot on the Knicks' next possession gave the Bucks a 101-96 advantage with 2:34 left. "We took an ill-advised three," Knicks coach Larry Brown said. "We had a stretch where we took the bad shot, then had the turnover and some missed free throws. We just haven't learned how to win." "I was awful down the stretch," said Crawford, who made just 4-of-15 shots. "I missed free throws, a three pointer and threw the ball away. That's uncharacteristic for me, but I was terrible down the stretch." Sharpshooter Michael Redd finished with 22 points and seven assists and Jamaal Magloire added 15 points for the Bucks, who improved to 7-0 against the teams from the Atlantic Division. Two of the wins have come at the expense of the Knicks. "Everyone stepped up and made plays," Redd said. "Mo has more of a scorer's mentality, and T.J. is more of a creator. They both bring a little something different to the table." Despite having five players in double figures, New York lost for the 10th time in its last 11 games. Stephon Marbury had 23 points and 12 assists and rookie Nate Robinson finished with 19 points for the Knicks (7-21), who fell into last place. Maurice Taylor scored 18 points off the bench for New York, which lost its fifth straight road game.