MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jason Kidd helped make the Bucks relevant again. Someone else will have to help them become champions.Despite mentoring a young, athletic core led by All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kidd was fired by Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst on Monday. Assistant coach Joe Prunty will lead the team for the rest of the season.Still, if and when Milwaukee does compete for NBA titles, Kidd's influence will be clear. He led Antetokounmpo and company to two playoff appearances in three seasons — not bad for a team that won 15 games four seasons ago. Antetokounmpo has become a star, and Khris Middleton has also become a standout player.Yet the Bucks are hovering around .500 and stuck in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The perimeter defense hasn't ever really improved, and turnovers have become a debilitating issue of late.For Horst, there wasn't enough progress for Kidd to keep his job. The surprise firing, hours before the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns 109-105,... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Seeking change amid midseason struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday after a slide that left a team with designs on challenging the NBA's best in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus-season tenure in Milwaukee, during which the Bucks made the playoffs twice, exiting in the first round each time. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's game against Phoenix and had been prone to defensive lapses, especially on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue of late as well.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change. Kidd was fired hours before the Bucks beat the Suns 109-105.Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach for the rest of the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Seeking change amid midseason struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday after a slide that left a team with designs on challenging the NBA's best in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus-season tenure in Milwaukee, during which the Bucks made the playoffs twice, exiting in the first round each time. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's game against Phoenix and had been prone to defensive lapses, especially on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue of late as well.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change. Kidd was fired hours before the Bucks beat the Suns 109-105.Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach for the rest of the... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Seeking change amid midseason struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday after a slide that left a team with designs on challenging the NBA's best in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus-season tenure in Milwaukee, during which the Bucks made the playoffs twice, exiting in the first round each time. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's game against Phoenix and had been prone to defensive lapses, especially on the perimeter. Turnovers were an issue of late as well.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change. Kidd was fired hours before the Suns game.Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season, co-owner... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday amid a midseason slide that has left the playoff hopeful in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus season tenure in Milwaukee, when the Bucks made the playoffs twice. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five to fall to 23-22 going into Monday night's home game against Phoenix, and had been prone to defensive lapses especially on the perimeter. Assistant coach Joe Prunty was serving as head coach.General manager Jon Horst, who was promoted from director of basketball operations in June, said it was time for a change and the move was made with "unanimous support of ownership."Under Kidd, the Bucks had a regular-season record of 139-152."We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks fired coach Jason Kidd on Monday amid a midseason slide that has left the playoff hopeful in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.It was a surprising end to Kidd's three-plus season tenure in Milwaukee, when the Bucks made the playoffs twice. Giannis Antetokounmpo turned into an All-Star under his watch, and the Bucks were considered an emerging force in the East at the start of the season.But the Bucks had lost four of five going into Monday night's home game against Phoenix, and had been prone to defensive lapses especially on the perimeter. Assistant coach Joe Prunty was serving as head coach.Under Kidd, the Bucks had a regular-season record of 139-152."We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make a coaching change," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said. "We believe that a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our talented team toward the next level, bringing us closer to our goal of competing for championships."The Bucks are hoping to get Jabari Parker back from a left knee injury that has kept him out all season. But the Bucks have largely tread water in the wide-open East even after adding talented guard Eric Bledsoe in a trade with the Suns in November.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

G Eric Bledsoe scored six of his game-high 26 over the final 2:25 Thursday as Milwaukee rallied for a 102-96 victory.

G Eric Bledsoe began the third quarter with a short leash after picking up four fouls in the first half. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 12 of his 22 points in the third.

G Eric Bledsoe scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting and added five rebounds and a pair of steals in 32 minutes.

G Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton took over down the stretch, combining for 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Bucks to a 109-102 victory over Dallas at the Bradley Center. Middleton finished with a game-high 31 points and accounted for five of the Bucks' eight 3-pointers. Bledsoe added two more and finished with 24 for Milwaukee, which won for the fifth time in its last six games.

ATLANTA -- Cleveland's defense wasn't what it had been during most of its winning streak, but a season-best 18 3-pointers in 39 attempts were enough to carry the Cavaliers past the Atlanta Hawks 121-114 on Thursday for their 10th consecutive victory.Kevin Love had 25 points and 16 rebounds, and LeBron James had 24 points and 12 assists as Cleveland held on despite a scare from Atlanta.The Hawks, down by 12 points late in the third quarter, closed to 113-112 on two free throws by Ersan Ilyasova, but James hit a 3-pointer with just under two minutes left to help the Cavaliers regain control.Dennis Schroder had 27 points and Ilyasova 22 for Atlanta.Celtics 108, 76ers 97BOSTON -- Kyrie Irving scored 36 points to power Boston over undermanned but feisty Philadelphia.Irving and Marcus Morris keyed a 17-7 fourth-quarter run that broke the game open and gave the Celtics a ninth win in their last 10 home games. It was also the seventh straight TD Garden victory for Boston over the 76ers.The Celtics'... [More]

G Eric Bledsoe added 25 points for the Bucks. . In his 10 games with Milwaukee since his acquisition from Phoenix, Bledsoe has scored in double figures nine times.

G Eric Bledsoe scored seven of his 14 points in the final three minutes of Wednesday's 99-95 victory over Detroit. Bledsoe was playing his fourth game for Milwaukee and hasn't even gone through a full practice yet. "He's a true pro," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "To have a short time of practice with those guys, it just shows his basketball IQ. He knows how to play." Bledsoe grabbed six rebounds, had eight assists and blocked two shots in 30 minutes but had struggled with his shot for much of the game, going 2 of 10, including three misses from beyond the arc.

G Eric Bledsoe had 21 points and five assists in the third quarter in Tuesday's 112-87 victory at Sacramento. Bledsoe had 13 points during Milwaukee's 24-7 run that turned a 37-30 contest into a 61-37 rout at halftime.

G Eric Bledsoe recorded 30 points and seven assists in Wednesday's 113-107 overtime victory at Phoenix. It was his first game in Phoenix since being traded Nov. 7, a few weeks after tweeting that he didn't want to be in Phoenix. Bledsoe was booed during introductions and each time he touched the ball in the first half.

G Eric Bledsoe made his third straight start despite suffering a bone bruise in Milwaukee's last outing. Coach Jason Kidd had said Bledsoe would be a "game-time decision."Bledsoe had a strong outing for his new team, finishing with 15 points.

G Eric Bledsoe started his second consecutive game for the Bucks and finished with 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in his home debut following Tuesday's trade from the Phoenix Suns.

PG Eric Bledsoe participated in the morning shootaround and will be in the starting lineup for Friday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. Kidd told reporters that Bledsoe will get the start over reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, who has started all nine of Milwaukee's games this season. The Bucks acquired Bledsoe on Tuesday from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for injured center Greg Monroe and protected 2018 first and second-round picks. Bledsoe is entering his eighth NBA season and owns career averages of 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

G Eric Bledsoe scored 13 points and hit a key jumper down the stretch in his debut with Milwaukee, a 94-87 win over the Spurs. He hadn't played in an NBA game since the Suns' 130-88 loss to the Clippers on Oct. 21.

CLEVELAND -- Point guard Eric Bledsoe will soon be playing alongside the NBA's leading scorer, who is only 22 years-old to boot.All it took was one Tweet.The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Bledsoe from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for injured center Greg Monroe and protected 2018 first and second-round picks on Tuesday.Bledsoe will not join the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo for tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they are hopeful to have him Nov. 10 at San Antonio. He was sent home by Suns GM Ryan McDonough on Oct. 23, one day after the 27-year-old tweeted, "I don't wanna be here." Bledsoe was fined $10,000 by the NBA."Hopefully it helps us," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "I think we're excited. Eric's excited. On the other side of that coin, Moose (Monroe) did everything we asked him to help us win, from being a starter to being asked to go to the bench and help us have a stronger bench, so again I wish him the best because he did everything we asked."In a news release, Bucks... [More]