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Magic eye playoff berth in Milwaukee

Mar 16, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - A return trip to the postseason is becoming less and less likely for Milwaukee as the club prepares to host an Orlando Magic team on the cusp of another playoff berth.

The Bucks, who are opening up a four-game homestand tonight, followed up a disastrous loss in Boston on Sunday by getting routed again in Atlanta on Tuesday. Joe Johnson made a season-high six three-pointers en route to 36 points in that one, as the Hawks dominated Milwaukee, 110-85.

Andrew Bogut finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who were coming off an embarrassing 87-56 loss to the Celtics and are now sitting in the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, 2 1/2 games behind Indiana for the final playoff slot with 16 games left in the regular season. Carlos Delfino and Corey Maggette added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

"We had trouble getting back on defense early in the game, and we looked a little bit tired," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. "We tried to put fresher bodies in there, but that didn't work. It was just one of those games where we didn't play very well.

Milwaukee, which is 17-16 at Bradley Center, will also face New Jersey, New York and Sacramento on its residency.

Orlando is all but assured of another playoff berth and is currently fourth in the East and 4 1/2 games behind Miami for the Southeast Division lead. In fact the Magic could clinch their latest postseason berth with a win tonight and a loss by either Indiana or Charlotte. The Pacers are in Boston while the Bobcats are visiting Houston.

Most recently the Magic fell to 2-2 on a five-game road trip when Pau Gasol led the way with 23 points and five rebounds, while frontcourt mate Andrew Bynum held his own against Dwight Howard with 10 points and 18 boards, as the Los Angeles Lakers used a big second half to down Orlando, 97-84, at Staples Center.

"Tonight he was all over me and all over the basket," said Howard about Bynum. "It was a tough game out there tonight. But, I like to battle and I look forward to the next one."

Howard led the Magic with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while four other players reached double figures led by Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson, who each scored 13 points. Hedo Turkoglu donated 12 for Orlando, which turned it over 18 times.

"We're pretty good when we're not throwing the ball to the other team," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy told the team's website.

The Magic have won eight of their past 10 meetings with the Bucks but Milwaukee did earn a victory in the Badger State back on Dec. 4. However, both Howard and point guard Jameer Nelson were sidelined for that game with a nasty stomach virus that some speculated was food poisoning.