Jefferson, Bucks hold on after big run

Richard Jefferson scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, Andrew Bogut grabbed 17 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks held on after a big run to beat Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs 82-78 on Wednesday night.

The Bucks, without Michael Redd for the fifth straight game because of a sprained right ankle, used a 21-2 run straddling the third and fourth quarters to take control in a game that featured two struggling offenses without some of their biggest stars.

But Duncan, who had 24 points, scored 14 of the Spurs' 19 points in the fourth quarter in a rally that fell just short when he missed a 5-footer that would've tied it with 5 seconds to play.

San Antonio, missing Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to injuries, is off to its worst start since going 2-13 in 1996-97.

Ramon Sessions scored 13 points, rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 11, and Bogut and Luke Ridnour had 10 apiece for Milwaukee. Michael Finley scored 19 points for San Antonio.

Milwaukee, which trailed by as many as 13, got started on its big run when Jefferson hit a 3-pointer with just under a minute left in the third quarter and took its first lead when Jefferson hit a jumper near the top of the key to make it 63-61 with 8:25 left. The Bucks extended the lead to 73-63 with 3:15 left before Duncan took over.

First he converted consecutive three-point plays to make it 73-69, hit one of two free throws on another possession, then had another three-point play with Bogut draped on him to make it 75-73 with 41 seconds left.

Sessions and Duncan traded layups , but Charlie Bell was fouled after an inbound play, hitting both free throws give Milwaukee a 79-75 lead with 17 seconds left.

Finley hit a 3 and San Antonio had a chance to tie after Sessions hit the first free throw of two with 11.5 seconds left to make it 80-78.

After a timeout, Roger Mason Jr. found Duncan down the lane, but he couldn't get the 5-footer to fall and Mason failed to get the rebound before stepping out of bounds. Jefferson hit two free throws for the final margin.

Notes:@ The Bucks, already without Redd, also lost forward Charlie Villanueva in the first half with a left hamstring strain. ... Mbah a Moute, the Bucks' second-round pick, made his first career start in place of Villanueva ... Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he didn't want to put himself into a corner when asked if Ginobili might return before the end of November. Ginobili was in street clothes walking without a limp before the game, but declined to answer questions beyond saying he's feeling better.