Fri Mar 28 23:40:09 2008

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Howard, Magic steamroll hapless Bucks

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard's 25 points and 11 rebounds paced the Orlando Magic to a 103-86 drubbing of the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.

Rashard Lewis added 16 points and seven rebounds, as the Magic broke a franchise record with their 24th road victory of the season. The Magic own an 8 1/2 game lead in the Southeast Division over the Washington Wizards.

Hedo Turkoglu, who left Tuesday's game against the San Antonio Spurs with a sprained right wrist, contributed 12 points and seven boards, while Carlos Arroyo and Brian Cook chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bucks struggled on both ends of the floor, as the squad has dropped 12 of their last 14 games. Maurice Williams led Milwaukee in scoring with 18 points, and Charlie Villanueva posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Leading scorer Michael Redd was held to 3-of-16 shooting from the field for a mere seven points in 33 minutes.

Reserves Yi Jianlian and Royal Ivey recorded 11 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bucks jumped out to a 6-2 lead to begin the game, but that was the last the Magic would be threatened. Howard had his way in the opening quarter, as Orlando continually pounded the ball inside to the big man. His 14 points in the opening quarter -- eight coming from the charity stripe, -- put Orlando ahead, 34-23 after 12 minutes of play.

In the early going of the second frame, Orlando decided to show off its perimeter game, as nine of the Magic's first 11 points of the quarter came off jumpers. The Bucks couldn't keep pace as the squad continually took contested shots with no success.

Two jumpers apiece from Mason and Williams in the latter half of the quarter kept the game relatively close, but the Bucks still trailed, 60-43 at the break.

A 15-6 Magic run to begin the second half exposed the Bucks' poor defense. An Arroyo layup capped the spurt and Orlando led 75-49 midway through the period.

Orlando scored 10 points in the final 1:24 of the third quarter, as Arroyo compounded the Bucks' woes with a three-pointer at the buzzer, and the Magic held a commanding 87-63 advantage heading into the final frame.

Milwaukee had its chance of inching back into the contest as Orlando was held without a point for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Bucks could only manage one field goal of their own during that span, and didn't break the 20-point differential barrier until two minutes left in regulation.

Game Notes

Orlando had lost eight of their previous nine games at Milwaukee...Orlando has won five of their last seven overall against the Bucks...Maurice Evans added 10 points for the Magic, while Desmond Mason contributed 10 points for the Bucks...Orlando shot 44.3 percent from the floor, compared to Milwaukee's 34.3 percent...Milwaukee owned a 59-44 rebounding edge...Orlando shot 10-of-28 from three-point land, while the Bucks hit just 3-of-12 from downtown...Orlando hit 23-of-30 from the foul line, while the Bucks converted on 13-of-18 at the stripe.