Los Angeles - Brandon Jennings didn't look like a 20-year-old rookie. The way he was scoring, he looked more like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Jennings scored 55 points Saturday night - all in the final three quarters - as he broke Abdul-Jabbar's team rookie record and lifted the Milwaukee Bucks to a 129-125 home victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Jennings scored a staggering 29 points on 12-of-13 shooting in the third quarter and 10 more in the final 2:15 as the Bucks (4-3) won their fourth straight game.
"I just started getting in the groove and felt really good in the third quarter," said Jennings, who lifted his scoring average to 25.6 points per game, eighth in the NBA.
"It was a very, very impressive performance for anyone, let alone a rookie in his seventh game," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said.
Overall, Jennings made 21-of-34 shots, including 7-of-8 three-pointers. He joined Abdul-Jabbar and teammate Michael Redd as the only Bucks to score 50 points and broke Abdul-Jabbar's franchise rookie mark of 51 on Feb. 21, 1970.
The 6-1 Jennings, who last season became the first player to go from high school to Europe, fell three points shy of Chamberlain's all-time rookie record. He matched the fourth-most points scored by a rookie.
"We tried to handle him every way possible," said Warriors coach Don Nelson, whose team is last in the NBA in defense.
Jennings' third-quarter outburst gave Milwaukee a 92-83 lead entering the final period. But the Warriors rallied behind Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette, whose three-pointer gave Golden State a 115-114 edge with 2:44 to go.
That's when Jennings again took control, draining a three-pointer and adding a jumper less than a minute later for a 121-115 lead with 1:22 left.
"I was just trying to do whatever I could to help us win," he said.
After a three-point play by Maggette, Jennings made another shot from the arc and added two free throws as the Bucks held on.
"We just gave the ball to Brandon and let him go to work," Skiles said.
"That was a great performance," Maggette said. "He was something pretty special tonight."
Jennings did not score until the first minute of the second period but had 10 points as Milwaukee headed to halftime trailing, 57-49. He made his first 12 shots of the third quarter, when the Bucks scored 43 points.
"I was scoreless after the first quarter and really struggling," said Jennings, who started 1-of-7 from the field.
"I just started getting in the groove and felt really good in the third quarter."
Australian Andrew Bogut had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Charlie Bell added 14 and six assists for the Bucks, who shot 53 percent (48-of-91) and held a 46-31 advantage on the boards.
Ellis scored 26 points, Maggette added 25 and Stephen Jackson 21 for the Warriors, who shot 56 percent (46-of-82) but allowed a season high in points.
Miami 81, New Jersey 80=
Dwyane Wade made a three-pointer with 0.1 seconds remaining as the host Heat handed the winless Nets their 10th straight loss. Udonis Haslem had 28 points and 12 rebounds and Wade scored 22 points.
Indiana 113, Boston 104=
Danny Granger scored 29 points and Dahntay Jones added a season-high 25 as the Pacers won their fourth straight game and handed the visiting Celtics their second loss in as many nights.
Oklahoma City 101, San Antonio 98=
The return of injured stars Tim Duncan and "French Flash" Tony Parker was not enough to prevent the Spurs' first home loss of the season. Kevin Durant scored 25 points for the Thunder.
Cleveland 107, Utah 103=
LeBron James scored seven of his 21 points in the last 28 seconds, including a tie-breaking three-point play as the host Cavaliers - playing without Shaquille O'Neal - won their fourth straight game.
Atlanta 121, New Orleans 98=
Joe Johnson scored 26 points and Jamal Crawford added 21 for the Hawks, who won their fourth straight game and dropped the Hornets to 0-2 under new coach Jeff Bower. All-Star guard Chris Paul sat out with a sprained ankle.
Memphis 97, Minnesota 87=
Spain's Marc Gasol had 17 points and 16 boards for the host Grizzlies, who ended a six-game skid and handed the Timberwolves their 10th straight loss. Earlier Saturday, the Grizzlies signed point guard Jamaal Tinsley.
Portland 80, Charlotte 74=
The visiting Trail Blazers won their sixth straight game as Brandon Roy scored 25 points. France's Boris Diaw scored 21 points in the Bobcats' fourth straight loss.
Chicago 94, Philadelphia 88=
Britain's Luol Deng scored 19 points to lead six players in double figures for the host Bulls, who handed the 76ers their fifth setback in seven games.
Detroit 106, Washington 103=
Ben Gordon 29 points and Charlie Villanueva added 25 as the host Pistons dealt the Wizards their sixth straight loss. Gilbert Arenas had 19 points and 10 assists for Washington.
