From the Wires
Jennings, Jackson Leads Bucks Past Pistons
Milwaukee Bucks' Carlos Delfino, right, drives against Detroit Pistons' Greg Monroe during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)(Credit: AP) MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brandon Jennings scored 27 points and Stephen Jackson added 25 to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 102-93 on Thursday night.
The game was only the second in the shot-clock era without a missed free throw. The Bucks were 17 of 17 and the Pistons 24 of 24. The other game was Dec. 22, 2000, when Atlanta and Toronto hit all 16 free throws shot in the game.
The Bucks improved to 4-0 at home and 4-6 overall, while the Pistons dropped to 2-9 with their sixth straight loss and fifth in a row on the road. Detroit last lost six straight from March 13-April 3, 2010.
Bucks coach Scott Skiles became the 39th coach in NBA history to reach 400 victories. He is 400-388.
A game after scoring a season-high 34 points, Jackson was 9 of 17 from the field, and had six rebounds and six assists. Rookie Jon Leuer, making his first start for the Bucks, added 15 points and six rebounds.
Greg Monroe led the Pistons with a career-high 32 points and had 16 rebounds. Rookie point guard Brandon Knight added 20 points.
Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince hit a 3-pointer from the corner to cut it to 94-89 with 2:36 remaining, then made a jumper with 1:23 left to trim the lead to three.
Jennings hit a driving layup with 1:08 remaining. Prince missed a shot from the corner, and Leuer scored on a dunk off a pass from Jackson with 25.6 seconds to go to give the Bucks a 98-91 lead.
The Pistons went on an 8-0 run late in the second quarter to grab a 41-40 lead when Prince hit a short jumper with 2:12 remaining. It was the Pistons’ first lead in more than 150 minutes and nearly 13 quarters. Detroit last led 30-27 against New York with 10:56 left in the second quarter Saturday.
The Bucks responded with 12-2 run, with Carlos Delfino hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 52-43.
Notes: Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva missed his fourth straight game because of a sore right ankle. … Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey returned to the lineup after missing the last four games with a sore groin. He scored 11 points in 21 minutes. … For the Bucks, forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute missed his fifth straight game because of tendinitis in his right knee, and guard Beno Udrih missed his fourth game with a sprained left shoulder. Skiles said he hoped Udrih would play Monday night against Philadelphia.
Drivers see scarf-wearing pig on Pittsburgh road
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Motorists have reported a sharp-dressed pig running loose on a highway just outside of Pittsburgh. State troopers also spotted the animal but failed to catch it before it scurried off into the woods.
The pig is wearing a scarf. The sightings were reported between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday just west of the city on Interstate 376, known locally as the Parkway West.
State troopers from the nearby barracks in Findlay Township spotted the pig, but couldn’t catch up to it.
Police say the pig appeared to be a baby and confirmed it was wearing a scarf. Police don’t know why that is or who may own the animal.
Funeral next week for Bee Gees star Robin Gibb
LONDON (AP) — A private funeral service for Bee Gees star Robin Gibb will take place next week, with a public memorial service planned for later in the year.
In a statement issued Wednesday on behalf of Gibb’s family, his relatives confirmed that a service for “close family and friends” would take place on June 8.
No details about the location of the funeral have been disclosed.
The Gibb family requested that mourners offer donations, rather than flowers, to two children’s charities on the Isle of Man, where Gibb was born.
Gibb, a founder of the Bee Gees with his two late brothers, died on May 20 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 62.
Plans have not yet been confirmed for a planned public memorial service.
Andie MacDowell starring in Hallmark’s 1st series
NEW YORK (AP) — Andie MacDowell will be a pioneer for the Hallmark Channel, starring in the network’s first prime-time series.
Hallmark said Wednesday that MacDowell will portray municipal court Judge Olivia Lockhart in “Cedar Grove.” It will start with a two-hour movie airing later this year and continue with a 13-episode series early in 2013.
The new series is based on books by author Debbie Macomber. Movie adaptations of Macomber’s books have been among the top-rated programs that Hallmark has shown over the past three years.
MacDowell’s movie credits include “sex, lies and videotape,” ”Groundhog Day” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral.”
Sales contracts for US homes dropped in April
WASHINGTON (AP) — A gauge of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes fell in April from nearly a two-year high in the previous month.
The decline was the biggest in a year. Still, sales are well ahead of last year’s level for the same month, suggesting the housing market is improving slowly.
The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that its index of sales agreements dropped to 95.5, down from March’s reading of 101.1.
A reading of 100 is considered healthy. One year ago, the level was 83.5.
Continue Reading CloseForest wildfire becomes largest in NM history
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A massive wildfire in southwestern New Mexico’s Gila National Forest is now the largest fire in state history.
Fire officials said Wednesday the erratic fire has grown to more than 170,000 acres, surpassing a blaze last year that burned 156,593 acres in New Mexico and threatened the nation’s premier nuclear facility.
The Gila forest fire is also the largest currently burning in the country.
Fire information officer Jerry Perry says about 1,200 firefighters from around the state were in the isolated region to battle the growing blaze. He says they face low humidity and shifting winds in their firefighting efforts.
Perry says parts of southern New Mexico could expect to see smoke from the fire, which has destroyed a dozen homes.
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