Clippers Kibble for Big Dog

MILWAUKEE —  The Milwaukee Bucks are playing their best basketball at just the right time.

The Clippers are playing about like usual.

Milwaukee’s 104-93 victory over the Clippers on Thursday night was the Bucks’ third in a row and gave them a half-game lead over idle New Jersey and Miami for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

One reason for Milwaukee’s surge is rookie Glenn (Big Dog) Robinson, who had 32 points and 12 rebounds.

“It feels good,” Robinson said. “It’s a meaningful time. We’re going to try and finish out strong and see what we can do toward making the playoffs.”

The Clippers, who lost their fifth in a row, were led by Loy Vaught’s 19 points.

Todd Day added 18 and Marty Conlon had 17 for the Bucks.

Robinson scored eight points in the final quarter to keep the Bucks on top in a game they led since early in the first period. Vaught made a basket with just under two minutes to play to pull the Clippers within seven points, 98-91, but that was as close as they got.

All Clipper Coach Bill Fitch could say for his club was, “They played hard. At this stage of our travels, that’s all I can really say about us, that we’re playing hard.”

Fitch complimented Robinson, who he said should be a force in the NBA for a long time.

“I think he’s got a lot of strength and a lot of moxie for a rookie,” Fitch said. “He plays more like a veteran than a lot of the rookies do.”

Robinson scored 13 points in the first period when the Bucks took control of the game for good. Milwaukee led, 30-18, after one quarter and the Clippers, although they mounted a few rallies, were never able to close the gap.

“Offensively, Glenn had it going pretty good, and we did a good job of finding him and taking advantage of opportunities in the post,” Milwaukee Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

The Bucks are only 16-17 in the Bradley Center but have won four in a row there.

“It’s important for us to try and find a momentum and to get into feeling we can win close basketball games here,” Dunleavy said.

The Clippers, who trailed by 20 points in the second quarter, narrowed Milwaukee’s lead to 78-72 when Vaught made two free throws with 21.6 seconds left in the third period. But two free throws by Conlon with 5.8 seconds left to give the Bucks a 79-72 lead going into the final period.