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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee Bucks made a good first
impression thanks to plenty of second-chance points.
"More than a dunk or a 3-pointer, second-chance points kill an
opponent," Ray Allen said.
|  | | Sam Cassell loses control in the second quarter, but finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Bucks in Game 1 on Sunday. |
The Bucks beat Orlando 103-90 Sunday night in Game 1 of their
playoff series despite poor shooting by their Big Three. Allen, Sam
Cassell, and Glenn Robinson missed 19 of their first 24 shots and
finished 17-of-52 (32 percent).
Milwaukee, champions of the Central Division for the first time
in 15 years, beat Orlando for the 10th straight time because Scott
Williams got 19 points and a career playoff-high 16 rebounds, and
the Bucks outrebounded the Magic 59-42.
That led to 25 second-chance points, 18 more than Orlando, which
got 33 points from Tracy McGrady.
"Scott was a monster tonight. He was right there every time,
putting it back, and Ervin Johnson was right there putting it
back," Allen said. "Those second-chance points, you can't write a
script for that."
And Robinson doesn't want an encore, either.
"We didn't bring our 'A' game, but we got defensive stops down
the stretch and we got a lot of second-chance points," Robinson
said. "But hopefully we won't miss as many shots in Game 2 as we
did tonight."
Game 2 is Wednesday night at the Bradley Center.
"We haven't been getting much credit for having an inside
presence and I thought tonight Jason Caffey, Ervin Johnson and me
provided a big lift while our Big Three was struggling to find
their game," Williams said.
The Magic used an 8-0 run, highlighted by McGrady's dunk and
jumper, to pull to 94-90 with 2:17 left. But then it was Orlando's
turn to go cold, and the Bucks scored the game's final nine points.
Allen finished with 18 points, Cassell 16 and Robinson 14.
Reserves Tim Thomas and Johnson added 12 each, though Thomas left
in the fourth quarter after straining his back.
"We can't let their energy guys (reserves) come in and play so
well," McGrady said. "I think our big guys have to do so much
helping on the Big Three that it's hard for them to get back to
their man. We're asking them to do a lot."
The only other Magic player in double figures was reserve Pat
Garrity, who scored 14.
The Bucks got 34 points from their reserves and 23 offensive
rebounds compared to only 10 for the Magic.
"I really felt that their 'others' have been beating us all
season and they did it again," Magic coach Doc Rivers said.
Robinson had 12 rebounds, Johnson 10.
Thomas was playing for the first time since injuring his right
shoulder on April 10. He landed hard going for a rebound in the
closing minutes and strained his back. The extent of his injury
wasn't immediately known.
"Tim hit the floor pretty hard," Bucks coach George Karl said.
"He wouldn't have taken himself out of a game like this. It
appears to be a back strain. He is very important statistically to
this team. he has played well against Orlando. Hopefully, we'll
have him Wednesday."
Milwaukee led 79-74 entering the fourth quarter.
The Bucks, who owned the best home record (31-10) in the Eastern
Conference, came out shooting poorly, quieting a home crowd that
helps make the Bradley Center such a tough place to play.
Their Big Three were just 5-for-24 before Allen sank two
fadeaways that gave Milwaukee a 45-44 lead with 2:33 left in the
first half.
The Bucks didn't trail again.
Orlando scored just six points in the final 6½ minutes of the
first half and trailed 49-46 at the break on Williams' tip-in at
the buzzer.
"We need to rebound better," McGrady said, "if we want to win
the series."
Game notes
Rivers made his NBA playoff coaching debut. He participated
in 81 playoff games during his career as a player. ... The Bucks
and Magic had never met in the playoffs. ... Orlando last beat
Milwaukee on April 9, 1999. ... Before the game, Karl sent a box of
doughnuts to TNT commentator Charles Barkley, who had bet against
Milwaukee winning the Central Division. Barkley refused to partake
in the treats. "You don't know how old those doughnuts are,"
Barkley told his studio colleagues. ... Karl said he left Jerome
Kersey off the playoff roster because he might need rookie Joel
Przybilla to play against big centers if the Bucks advance. ...
Rivers said Darrell Armstrong (groin) wouldn't have played were
this not a playoff game.
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NBA Scoreboard
Orlando Clubhouse
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