(8-16) (15-11) TV: Fox Sports Net North Radio: 620 AM WTMJ WHEN: 6:00 PM WHERE: TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FL Previous Game Knicks 119 @ Magic 111 Rockets 87 @ Bucks 115 Streaks Magic: Lost 1 Bucks: Won 2 Probable Starters C: Dan Gadzuric/Tony Battie PF: Zaza Pachulia/Dwight Howard SF: Desmond Mason/Grant Hill SG: Michael Redd/Cuttino Mobley PG: Mo Williams/Steve Francis 6th Man:Mike James/Hedo Turkoglu Coaches: Terry Porter/Johnny Davis Injuries Bucks- Joe Smith- OUT (Groin) Desmond Mason- Probable (Knee) Keith Van Horn- OUT (Ankle) TJ Ford- OUT (Neck) Toni Kukoc- OUT (Hip) Daniel Santiago- OUT (Eye) Erick Strickland- OUT (Knee) Magic- Kelvin Cato- OUT (Shoulder) Brandon Hunter-OUT (Elbow) Andrew DeClercq- OUT (Knee) Matchup to Watch Desmond Mason vs. Grant Hill Mason: 17.9 PPG 4.5 RPG 2.0 APG Hill: 19.3 PPG 4.0 RPG 3.8 APG Prediction The Bucks play back to back a night after crushing the Rockets, they head south to Orlando to take on the Magic. With Joe Smith questionable with an injury suffered against Houston, I have to go with Orlando, with the Bucks back to back as well. If Joe plays, we have a chance. Magic by 7
Good preview Redd is going to have trouble with Mobley. I'm not so sure if Mo is going to even be able to hold Francis to under 30 points, either...so the Bucks will have to find their stroke early and don't look back. It could be a shootout for Milwaukee...but the Magic will end up taking it to the basket much more and beating on the Bucks in the paint. Magic win this one, 88-77.
The SF Matchup should be interesting. I want to see how Grant will handle Mason on D, attacking him everytime he gets the ball. The Bucks want revenge from opening night, but they're without Van Horn. But I think it's addition by subtraction, because Mason is better than Van Horn, and he can take Hill, Mobley, Augmon or whoever you put on him. I say the Bucks can pull this one off: 96-92 Desmond Mason: 26 Points, 7 Boards, 3 Assist ( 2 to Redd ) Steve Francis: 23 Points, 8 Assists, 6 Rebounds
Milwaukee 33 23 30 25 111 Final Orlando 26 24 27 28 105 Bucks Win Their 3rd Straight!! Bucks Leading Scorer- Michael Redd 29 pts Magic Leading Scorer- Grant Hill 26 pts Bucks Leading Rebounder- Dan Gadzuric 14 Rebounds Magic Leading Rebounder- Steve Francis 12 Rebounds Bucks Leading Assists- Zaza Pachulia 6 Assists Magic Leading Assists- Steve Francis 9 Assists Bucks 9-16 Magic 15-12 Next Games: Bucks: @ Houston Friday Magic: @ Chicago Saturday GMan's MVP: Dan Gadzuric Notes: Dez Mason added 21 pts and 4 assists, Mo Williams had 16 pts 5 assists, Zaza Pachulia played amazing again with 9 pts 11 rebounds 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Dan Gadzuric had his best game this year with 15 pts 14 rebounds. Zaza Pachulia started the game in place of Joe Smith who sat out with a groin injury.
