• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Patterson, Bucks continue success over Magic

Feb 7, 2007 - 5:59 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ruben Patterson and the Milwaukee Bucks always look forward to when the Orlando Magic are slated to come to town.

Patterson scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out six assists as the Bucks posted a 116-111 victory over the Magic.

Reserve Earl Boykins had 24 points and Charlie Villanueva added 22 and nine rebounds for Milwaukee, which has won seven straight and 15 of 16 vs. Orlando here.

"Charlie, Earl, we're all playing together and it all feels good when you win," Patterson said.

Patterson shot 11-of-16 from the field and Charlie Bell had 20 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range for the Bucks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

"I'm just having fun out there," Patterson said. "I'm still young and still got fresh legs. The energy Ruben brought and the plays he made were key for us," Bucks coach Terry Stotts said.

Mo Williams, who scored a career-high 38 points in Milwaukee's loss to Miami on Saturday, added 13 points and eight assists for the Bucks, who shot 51 percent (39-of-77).

The Bucks still await the return of leading scorer Michael Redd, who has missed the last 16 games due to a knee injury.

"I told Mike, 'I'm winning this game for us, I'm tired of losing," Patterson said. "I was just trying to be aggressive, take over and be a leader out there."

Dwight Howard scored 21 points and hauled in 11 rebounds and Keith Bogans had a season-high 19 points for Orlando, which lost for the 10th time in 13 games.

"It's just disappointing," Magic coach Brian Hill said. "It was our poorest defensive effort of the year, very disturbing. When four guys for them score 20-plus points, your effort isn't very good."

Hedo Turkoglu had 18 points and Carlos Arroyo added 14 off the bench for the Magic, who shot 53 percent (39-of-74).

"In the situation we're in, we can't win unless we play with a very high energy level and play good team defense," Hill said. "It's something we're going to have to clean up."