Allen Left Seeing Redd in Return to Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE â€”  Michael Redd put his friendship with former teammate Ray Allen aside to help the Milwaukee Bucks end Seattle’s three-game winning streak.

Redd scored 35 points on 14-for-25 shooting and defended Allen, leading the Bucks to a 99-73 victory over the SuperSonics on Sunday.

Shooting a season-low 29.4%, Seattle also had its lowest point total of the season, six points fewer than its Nov. 17 game at New Jersey.

“Personally, it wasn’t about Ray and me today,� Redd said. “It was about Milwaukee and the Sonics.�

Allen, a fan favorite for more than six seasons with Milwaukee, scored 16 points on four-for-16 shooting in his first game at the Bradley Center since being traded Feb. 20, 2003, by then-general manager Ernie Grunfeld for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray and a draft pick were also dealt to Seattle in a move that current General Manager Larry Harris called one of the most devastating trades in Bucks’ history.

Allen sat out last season’s return to Milwaukee while recovering from a right ankle injury.

The last Seattle starter to be announced, Allen received a rousing welcome that could have gone longer had the Bucks not started their own pre-game video introductions.

“There was a little outside motivation today because a lot of people miss Ray in the Milwaukee area,� said Redd, Allen’s teammate for more than two seasons. “It’s well-deserved because he was here for a while and was great here.�

Allen earned three of his five All-Star appearances as a Buck.

“It was a very weird feeling, I’m not going to lie to you,� Allen said after finishing eight points below his scoring average. “My emotions were torn a little bit.�