Magic-Bucks Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Feb 19 2012 11:50PM

The Orlando Magic's winning streak is over, but a trip to Milwaukee could help them get back on track.

Playing in front of their home fans hasn't helped the Bucks at all lately.

Orlando goes for its sixth consecutive victory in this series - and third in the last 10 days - on Monday night when the Bucks try to avoid their first six-game home losing streak in 12 years.

Winners of four straight and eight of 10, the Magic (20-12) shot 36.5 percent and lost 90-78 at league-best Miami on Sunday.

"When we scored we couldn't get a stop and when we stopped them we couldn't score," coach Stan Van Gundy told the Magic's official website. "It was that simple."

Although the Magic have lost just four times in the last 21 matchups with Milwaukee, Orlando needed a pair of strong fourth-quarter efforts to defeat the Bucks twice this month. After rallying from 10 down in the final period on Feb. 11 for a 99-94 victory at the Bradley Center, the host Magic outscored Milwaukee 22-11 in the fourth quarter of Friday's 94-85 win.

Dwight Howard is averaging 18.5 points, 17.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in those matchups after scoring 26 points with 20 boards on Friday.

The Magic have won 12 in a row in this series with Howard in the lineup.

The All-Star center could get another look at Bucks rookie Jon Leuer with Drew Gooden possibly missing a third consecutive game with a sprained right wrist and sore knee.

While that could leave a big hole in the Milwaukee frontcourt, forward Ersan Ilyasova has been outstanding over the last five games, averaging 18.0 points and 12.8 rebounds.

He had career bests with 29 points and 25 rebounds - tying Howard for the most in the NBA this season - in Sunday's 92-85 victory at New Jersey.

The Bucks (13-18) had lost four in a row.

"We played much better as a team," said Ilyasova, who has 31 points and 26 rebounds versus Orlando this season. "We shared the ball and everybody put forward a hell of an effort to win the game."

Milwaukee, though, has dropped five in a row at home since opening 7-2 at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks' last six-game home skid was an 0-7 stretch from Feb. 5-25, 2000.

Jason Richardson helped the Magic win their second straight in Milwaukee earlier this month with a career-high nine 3-pointers and 31 points, but the veteran guard is questionable after sitting out Sunday with chest pain that started Saturday night.

"Once I took that step and started to run (on Sunday), I knew it wasn't heartburn," Richardson said. "They said (he should sit out) 24 hours to two days, so we'll see how it goes (Monday)."

If Richardson can't go, the Bucks will still have to deal with one of the league's best long-range shooters in Ryan Anderson. The fourth-year forward - the NBA leader in 3-pointers (93) and attempts (212) - is 5 for 13 from beyond the arc against Milwaukee this season and is averaging 16.0 points and 8.0 boards.

Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings has 21 total points on 7-for-34 shooting in those losses. His shooting percentage is 32.4 in 11 games this month.

Howard scores 28 to lead Magic over Bucks 93-90

Posted Feb 20 2012 11:45PM

MILWAUKEE (AP) Down two points with under a minute left against Milwaukee, the Orlando Magic found themselves in a familiar position.

And for the third time in 10 days, the Magic completed a fourth-quarter comeback, beating the Bucks 93-90 on Monday night.

Ryan Anderson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 18.1 seconds remaining after Dwight Howard tipped a rebound to Jameer Nelson, who passed it to Anderson.

The shot gave Orlando a 91-90 lead, and for Anderson it was a great ending to a frustrating game. He was hounded at every turn by Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova and hit only two of six shots before hitting what proved to be the winner.

"I was lucky as it was a wide-open look," he said. "You have to give credit to the guys underneath. They fought for it and got it to me."

Howard, who led the Magic with 28 points and 16 rebounds, said he was just trying to get his hand on the ball.

"I couldn't get the rebound so me and (Bucks forward Mike) Dunleavy tipped the ball," Howard said. "They left him open at the wrong time. He knocked it down and won us the game."

Howard said it was very difficult for the Magic to come from behind in all three games.

"It is very tough," Howard said. "Both teams played hard, but we were just able to close it out. We stayed with it and stayed together and got a good win."

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy called the win "unbelievable."

"For that to happen three times in 10 days and be down in the fourth, it's incredible," he said. "I don't remember ever having that in a season against anybody when three games sort of go so similarly."

Nelson added 15 points and Hedo Turkoglu had 13 for the Magic.

Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 22 points and Dunleavy added 18. Ilyaosova, coming off a 29-point, 25-rebound effort Sunday against New Jersey, had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

It was the Bucks' sixth straight loss at home, the first time Milwaukee has lost six in a row at the Bradley Center since a seven-game slide from Feb. 5-25, 2000.

Jennings said the Bucks always seem "to be a rebound away" from beating the Magic.

"We had to get that loose ball and they got it back and Anderson got a good look," he said. "It's really tough. We should have won the first time. We should have beat them in Orlando and we should have won tonight."

Orlando scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to take a 75-70 lead with 10 minutes remaining as Howard scored on a dunk. But the Bucks then went on a 14-4 run to grab a 84-79 lead when Jennings hit a jumper with 4:33 remaining. Jennings had six points during the run.

J.J. Reddick hit a jumper from the top of the key to give Orlando an 87-86 lead with 1:38 remaining. Larry Sanders followed with a layup to put the Bucks ahead 88-87 with 1 minute to go. Howard was fouled and hit one of two free throws to tie it with 46 seconds left.

Jennings hit a driving layup with 31.2 seconds left to put the Bucks back in front 90-88 before Ryan Anderson hit a 3-pointer with 18.1 seconds remaining to put Orlando up 91-90.

Nelson was fouled with 10.8 seconds to go and hit both free throws for the final margin.

Notes: Magic guard Jason Richardson missed his second straight game with a chest virus. For the Bucks, center Drew Gooden missed his third straight game with a right wrist sprain and rookie forward Tobias Harris missed his second straight game with a right shoulder contusion.Orlando guard Quentin Richardson left the game in the second quarter after taking a knee to his left thigh. He did not return to the game.

Notebook: Magic 93, Bucks 90

Posted Monday February 20, 2012 11:59PM

By Rick Braun, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Ryan Anderson's 3-pointer with 18.1 seconds left gave Orlando the lead for good as the Magic rallied from five points down in the last three minutes to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 93-90, Monday night at the Bradley Center.

The Magic has beaten the Bucks three times in 10 days, coming back from deficits of 10, 10 and five in the fourth quarter.

Dwight Howard posted 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic, which improved to 21-12. Jameer Nelson added 15 points five assists, none bigger than his pass to Anderson after Howard tapped an offensive rebound to Nelson following a J.J. Redick miss.

Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 20 points but committed a costly turnover with 12.2 seconds left and Milwaukee trailing, 91-90. Ersan Ilyasova added 15 points and 14 rebounds, his third straight double-double, but the Bucks (13-19) lost for the sixth straight time at home.

QUOTABLE: "That's unbelievable. It's really unbelievable. It's unbelievable for that to happen three times in 10 days -- to be down in the fourth. It's incredible."
-- Magic coach Stan Van Gundy on his team's third fourth-quarter rally past Milwaukee in less than two weeks.

THE STAT: After going 4-for-8 on threes in the first quarter, the Magic went 2 for its next 12 before J.J. Redick and Anderson both made 3-pointers in the final 1:23. Anderson leads the league in 3-pointers made with 95.

TURNING POINT: Jennings gave the Bucks a 90-88 lead on a floater in the lane with 31.2 seconds left, but the Magic turned it around from there. Redick drove the lane from the left, but his driving layup rimmed out toward the right baseline. Howard and Ilyasova battled for the rebound, with Howard winning the fight by tapping it to Nelson along the right sideline. Nelson fed Anderson, who was standing all alone past the top of the key and drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.1 seconds left.

QUOTABLE II: "It was a wide-open look. Jameer made a great pass, J.J. made a great play to the rim. His shot didn't fall, but Dwight's done a great job of making tips and making big plays. Credit that to the guys down low getting that tip-out."
-- Anderson on his go-ahead 3-pointer.

HOT: Although he entered the game at 49.3 percent from the free throw line this season, Howard made 10-of-14 Monday night. He also made 10-of-14 Friday night in a 94-85 victory over Milwaukee.

NOT: Bucks forward Carlos Delfino made just 3-of-12 shots but did manage to tie his career highs with eight assists and five steals.

GOOD MOVE: Bucks coach Scott Skiles went to second-year man Larry Sanders on Howard midway through the first quarter, and Sanders responded with 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots while helping force Howard into seven turnovers.

BAD MOVE: With the Bucks clinging to an 86-84 lead, Delfino lost track of Redick along the left wing when the ball went into Howard on the left block. Redick ran to the top of the key and gave the Magic an 87-86 lead when Howard fed him for the open 3-pointer.

QUOTABLE III: "That's too bad. We just can't finish close games right now. It's irrelevant whether it's home or road, we're just not getting it done. We've played some good opponents and been right there, but we just can't close it out."
-- Bucks swingman Mike Dunleavy on losing six straight at home

ROOKIE WATCH: Bucks second-round pick Jon Leuer opened the game guarding Howard but left with two fouls. Still, Leuer did score the Bucks' first six points and finished with 10.

NOTABLE: Magic guard Jason Richardson, who torched Milwaukee for 28 second-half points and 31 overall in a victory at the Bradley Center 10 days earlier, missed his second straight game with chest pains caused by a virus. ... Ilyasova drew three fouls on Orlando players in the first 48 seconds of the third quarter. ... Magic guard Quentin Richardson left in the first quarter with a thigh bruise and did not return. ... After scoring 13 points off the bench in the first half, Dunleavy opened the third quarter for the Bucks in place of Shaun Livingston. Dunleavy finished with 18 points.

UP NEXT: For the Magic, Wednesday @ New Jersey, Thursday @ Atlanta, Feb. 29 @ Washington. For the Bucks, Wednesday @ Chicago, Feb. 28 vs. Washington, Feb. 29 @ Boston.

• Magic: Orton, Richardson
• Bucks: Bogut

• Magic: --
• Bucks: --

• Lead Changes: 20
• Times Tied: 14

• Arena: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #38 Michael Smith, #34 Kevin Cutler
• Attendance: 13143
• Duration: 2:08