"A few encouraging signs were on display in the Bucks' 91-81 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night at the Bradley Center.

Take the 17 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots by Bucks center Andrew Bogut.

"They didn't read their scouting report, so I'm coming to block that," Bogut quipped after the game.

Or if you prefer, how about the team-leading 21 points and 4 three-pointers by guard Carlos Delfino?

And then there was the return of point guard Brandon Jennings, playing for the first time in nearly six weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured bone in his left foot.

Jennings did not score a basket but emerged unscathed after 11 minutes and said he was ready for further action.

"It was all right," Jennings said. "It felt good to just be back with the guys.

"I knew I wasn't going to play as much. I was just trying to get back in the flow and get a little bit of rhythm back."

And even though they didn't contribute a basket or a rebound, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun showed up and got a huge ovation from the Bradley Center crowd.

Asked if that helped his team at all, Bucks coach Scott Skiles deadpanned, "Was there somebody here?"

Yes, it was an enjoyable night for the Bucks (19-26) as they won their third straight game and headed west for a three-game trip with a needed dose of confidence.

All five Bucks starters scored in double figures, with point guard Keyon Dooling contributing 14 points and nine assists and Corey Maggette and Ersan Ilyasova each scoring 14.

"We have to do it by committee," Dooling said. "I think we're starting to embrace that more. One night it might be somebody's night; one night it might not.

"But if we play the game with pure intent, I think it will come around for everybody. We're getting our guys back and we should only get better from this point on."

Delfino was in the starting lineup due to the hip injury that has sidelined John Salmons and the absence of Chris Douglas-Roberts, who was excused to attend a funeral in Detroit.

The Argentine player continued his strong comeback from concussive symptoms that sidelined him for more than two months.

"He's a 2-3 man that can create off the dribble for us; we can put him in pick-and-rolls," Bogut said. "He has a high basketball IQ, and he rebounds for us as well.

"We definitely missed him. We missed him as much as anybody. With Brandon hurt and John and Carlos; I think Carlos was one of those X factors."