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Flu-ridden Magic finish road trip in Milwaukee

Dec 4, 2010 - 3:43 PM (Sports Network) - The powerful Orlando Magic hope to finish a three-game Midwestern road trip in perfect fashion tonight when they face off with the reeling Milwaukee Bucks at Bradley Center.

The Magic improved to 2-0 on their current trek and won their sixth straight game overall Friday in Auburn Hills when Brandon Bass took over the offensive load for a short-handed Orlando team by scoring a career-best 27 points as the Magic, minus four key players, beat the Detroit Pistons, 104-91.

The Magic, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, were without All-Star center Dwight Howard and three other players due to a stomach virus. Swingman Mickael Pietrus and guards Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick were also sidelined because of the illness. Howard and Pietrus have already flown back to Orlando and will also miss tonight's game.

Despite this and an ankle injury to forward Ryan Anderson, the Magic got a balanced offensive effort, helped by Vince Carter's 25 points and nine assists. Quentin Richardson and Rashard Lewis each had 15 points, while Marcin Gortat, filling in for Howard, tallied 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

"We're a very deep basketball team that believes in each other," Carter said. "As well as they were shooting we just kept playing, give ourselves a chance to win it in the fourth quarter. Defensively we wanted to come out and play a perfect brand of basketball. They were shooting at a high level and we wanted to stay close and give ourselves a chance to win."

Bass, who played 33 minutes in a reserve role, missed on just one of his 12 shots from the field. Orlando shot 59.7 percent.

The Bucks, who are kicking off a four-game homestand tonight, lost for the seventh time in eight games on Wednesday when Nene scored 24 points, J.R. Smith had 20 with 10 rebounds and Denver rolled to a 105-94 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday despite Carmelo Anthony's ejection in the third quarter.

John Salmons scored 21 to lead Milwaukee while Corey Maggette added 17 points for the Bucks, who played without center Andrew Bogut for a fifth straight game due to back spasms.

"We just need to stay together as a team, continue to execute on the things we have to do and just try to get ready for the next game," Maggette said of his team's skid.

Milwaukee, which is 4-4 at home, will also face Miami, Indiana and Houston on its residency.