Richard Jefferson scored 24 points and Vince Carter added 21 as the New Jersey Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 111-98 last night. Bostjan Nachbar scored all 15 of his points in the second half for New Jersey, which won for only the second time in eight games. Jefferson, Nachbar, and Devin Harris each scored four points in a 12-0 fourth-quarter run.
Milwaukee has lost six straight and played a lackadaisical game despite having new GM John Hammond at the game. Hammond, who spent the past seven years as Detroit's vice president of basketball operations, was named general manager Friday and introduced during a news conference three hours before last night's game. Desmond Mason led Milwaukee with 18 points, while Michael Redd finished with 12 points in 29 minutes. (More NBA stories.)