(My Sportsbook) - The
Milwaukee Bucks try to build off a much-needed home win over a top-level opponent their last time out when the formidable
Orlando Magic enter the Bradley Center for a key showdown this evening.
Milwaukee currently sits a half-game back of Chicago for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Bucks helped their cause greatly with Sunday's 86-77 victory over defending world champion Boston. Charlie Villanueva led the way with 19 points, while Charlie Bell drained a crucial three-pointer in the final minute that helped take down the shorthanded Celtics.
The Bucks snapped a two-game losing streak despite shooting just 32.6 percent from the field for the night. However, Milwaukee pulled down 21 offensive rebounds and forced Boston into a season-high 25 turnovers.
Milwaukee will attempt to maintain its newfound momentum against an Orlando team that had a string of three straight wins halted by the powerful Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. LeBron James poured in 43 points and sank two game- sealing free throws with 8.7 seconds left to lift the Cavs to a 97-93 victory at Quicken Loans Arena.
Rafer Alston finished with 23 points for the Magic and rookie Courtney Lee had 19 in the loss, while Orlando All-Star Dwight Howard compiled 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Even with Tuesday's setback, the Magic still hold a comfortable 9 1/2-game lead atop the Southeast Division and are just a half-game behind the Celtics for second place in the East.
Orlando also sports one of the best road records in the NBA this season, a 23-11 ledger, and has won five of its last six encounters with the Bucks. In the lone previous meeting between the clubs this season, the Magic recorded a 108-101 decision in Orlando on November 24.
Milwaukee is a solid 20-14 at the Bradley Center this season and has split the first four tests of a six-game homestand that concludes a matchup against Portland on Sunday.
The Bucks have dropped nine of their last 13 overall contests, however, and have not registered back-to-back victories since a three-game win streak from February 9-17.
