Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports: On Saturday, Milwaukee Bucks forward Tim Thomas got hit with a fine.

The team announced that Thomas had been fined an undisclosed amount for not re-entering Wednesday's game against the Nuggets, which Milwaukee lost 108-103.

Before Friday's game in Utah, coach George Karl said he thought the fine would be substantial.

"The situation has been handled internally," general manager Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement released by the team. "Tim has apologized to the team. We've put this matter behind us and we're moving forward."

Matt Harpring managed a paltry two points in the first quarter, three in the second, and only one in the fourth -- the sort of production from a front-line scorer that just isn't good enough to beat an offensive-minded team like Milwaukee.
   
Well, unless you go Michael Jordan on them the rest of the time, of course.
   
That's what Harpring did on Friday, walloping the Bucks with 22 points in the third quarter, including 12 in a row at one point, sparking the Jazz to their sixth straight victory, 103-90 in the Delta Center.

For the second straight game, the Bucks failed to come alive until the fourth quarter, and once again it was too late by then. The Utah Jazz prevailed for a 103-90 victory Friday night at the Delta Center.

Twenty-four minutes into Friday's game with the Milwaukee Bucks, it was clear the Jazz weren"t going to win by playing on cruise control.

The Jazz and Bucks swapped leads 11 times in the first half, with neither side showing much assertiveness and Milwaukee holding one-point lead at the break.

"We didn't seem to have the determination," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

Jerry Sloan turned 61 on Friday.

Asked for his fondest birthday wish, it probably would have been exactly what he got ? a 103-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at the Delta Center.
     
It was his team's sixth straight win ? their longest win streak since back in November, when another string of six straight victories ended with a loss to ? you guessed it ? the Spurs, tonight's opponent in San Antonio.
     
After Friday's win, Sloan and his players were asked more questions about the Spurs than about the Bucks, who provided little more than a tuneup for the more intriguing matchup tonight. The Spurs, after all, have beaten the Jazz 11 straight times, and if the playoffs had started Friday, San Antonio and Utah would be first-round opponents.

The weather is not the only thing that can change quickly in the spring.
   
Ten days ago, the Jazz were closer to missing the playoffs than they were to moving up. Ten games ago, the Bucks, in seventh place in the Eastern Conference race, were figuring that as they got used to Gary Payton's presence, they had a decent shot at sixth.
   
Then everything went in reverse.

Tim Thomas' refusal to re-enter Wednesday's game may result in a fine or suspension for the sixth year forward reports Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Thomas is thought to be upset because of George Kerl's decision to play him at power forward instead of his customary small forward postion. Thomas played small forward until Desmond Mason was acquired. Since then he has seen time at the power forward spot.

"There are pluses and minuses for Timmy," Karl said. "There are mismatches. He has to defend a bigger player, but he plays against a slower player. When I played, I used to enjoy being able to attack players. That's a luxury to playing (power forward). You can look at the negative side of the mismatch and say, 'Oh, I have to guard David Robinson or push with this big, strong kid.' But he's got to cover you, too.

"Actually, I thought we'd get more from the advantages, but we haven't gotten that."

Thomas will not start tonight against the Utah Jazz.

Chris Tomasson writes about last nights Nuggets win over the Miliwaukee Bucks.  2-0 in the retro uni's and they have 2 more to play in the throwbacks.  We could be looking at an 18-20 win season!

Denver takes on Miliwaukee tonight at 7pm at the Pepsi Center.

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports: Just 24 hours after getting blown out in New Orleans 133-98, the Milwaukee Bucks redeemed themselves with a 93-85 victory over the Hornets in Milwaukee.

While the win helped Milwaukee in terms of playoff positioning, it is also significant because it was coach George Karl's 700th coaching victory.

However, he really didn't much to say about it. Instead, he focused on the game and the future.

"I thought tonight after how we were abused by their big guys (on Friday), Joel came in and played very physical," said Karl "He gave us a presence in the middle of the court that I think we'll build on."

"I think we've just got to keep winning home games," said Karl. "If we can sweep the home series (the last six), I think good things are going to happen. We'll figure out how many games we've got to win on the road, but if we sweep at home, I think we'll be fine."

With the win, the Bucks moved a game ahead of the Washington Wizards for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.