Game Thread: Magic/Bucks

(AP/John Raoux)

08/09 Series:

Nov. 24: @Magic 108 Bucks 101

Injuries

Magic: Jameer Nelson (right shoulder surgery) is out for the season.

Bucks: Michael Redd (torn ACL and MCL) and Andrew Bogut (stress fracture in lower back) are out.

Three Points

• They travel well. Milwaukee plays Orlando three times in the final four weeks, a rather excessive number for the team's chances. And just because two of them are at the BC, including tonight's tilt, doesn't necessarily help matters. The Bucks restored some home court confidence with a win over the defending champion Celtics, but in march an even better road club tonight. At 23-11, the Magic are the top road team in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Lakers by a game for the top overall mark. They led in the final minute before losing in Cleveland last night, nothing really to be ashamed of against a 30-1 home team on a night when LeBron line looks like this: 43/12/8.
• He's got the dunk. He's superdunky. Dwight Howard failed to defend his dunk contest crown this year, falling to New York's Nate Robinson in the final round. Nonetheless, I think Howard (167) can take solace in the fact that he trails the entire Knicks' team (168) by merely one dunk this season. In any event, you have to think the Bucks will use their share of allotted fouls in this game against Howard, who is shooting 60.5 % from the free throw line this season.
  
• Change is good. The Bucks have come a long way, which I touched on yesterday in the notes with a Bag Revolt reference. A year ago today, the dreadful, Dwyane Wade-less Heat  threw in 42 fourth quarter points at the BC for the comeback win and the Bucks' sixth straight loss. Now Milwaukee is fighting for a playoff spot. There is at least one good reason why the currently assembled team doesn't act, play, or look like the one a year ago: They are, in fact, very different. Only three players (Villanueva, Bell, Gadzuric) who played in that loss to the Heat on March 18, 2008 are suiting up tonight for Milwaukee. And the Charlies are certainly in better form this season.
  

Coverage

Bucks.com / Third Quarter Collapse