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Bucks-Magic Preview

Feb 2, 2010 - 5:47 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (20-25) at Orlando (32-16), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Although they went through a bit of rough stretch in January, the Orlando Magic have always been tough on opponents at home. The Milwaukee Bucks are already well aware of how difficult it is to win in Orlando.

With both Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus expected to play, the Southeast Division-leading Magic look to win their ninth straight home game over the Bucks on Tuesday night.

Orlando (32-16) won at Detroit 91-86 on Sunday despite playing most of the game without Nelson (knee) and Pietrus (ankle). When those two went down, the Magic began to struggle. Orlando blew a 15-point first-half lead and trailed for much of the second half before rallying behind J.J. Redick, who scored 14 of his 17 points after the break.

Although Nelson and Pietrus didn't return to the court Sunday for precautionary reasons, neither is expected to miss any time for the Magic, who have won six of seven after losing seven of nine.

Six of the losses during that slump came on the road, where the Magic have had trouble all season, losing 12 of 26.

It has been an entirely different story for Orlando at home. The Magic have won five straight at Amway Arena - which includes two victories over Atlanta and one over Boston - and are 18-4 at home this season.

The Magic had little trouble beating the Bucks (21-25) in Orlando on Dec. 30, shooting 55.8 percent in a 117-92 victory after struggling in a 100-98 victory at the Bradley Center on Nov. 28. Dwight Howard had 17 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 8 of 11 in just 24 minutes in the home win, and Vince Carter scored 25 and went 10 of 16 from the floor.

The Magic have won eight straight home games over the Bucks since a 111-105 loss on Dec. 29, 2004. Rarely have the games been close with Orlando shooting 50.7 percent from the floor in outscoring Milwaukee by an average of 16.0 points.

The Bucks have been quite vulnerable on the road, losing 16 of 20 away from the Bradley Center, but they are coming off an impressive road victory. Milwaukee won 97-81 at Miami on Monday for its third straight victory after winning just three of its previous 10.

Defense has keyed the turnaround with the Bucks allowing an average of 84.3 points on 39.9 percent shooting in the last three games after yielding an average of 104.7 points in the previous 10.

Milwaukee held the Heat to 36.4 percent shooting Monday to sweep a home-and-home series and move within two games of Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We definitely have a chance to make the playoffs but it will come down to every game," Andrew Bogut said. "Every game is important."

Bogut had 22 points and 11 rebounds Monday as Milwaukee improved to 11-1 since the start of last season when the No. 1 pick of the 2005 draft gets at least 20 points and 10 boards.

"He's had a lot of performances where he looks like an All-Star-caliber-type center," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "The problems he's had over the years but not as much this year is inconsistency. He's becoming more consistent."

Bogut missed the first game of the season against the Magic and had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the December meeting in Orlando.