Newf
11-29-2009, 03:12 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILWAUKEE -- Vince Carter scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half after getting four stitches and Dwight Howard added 25 points and 20 rebounds to rally the Orlando Magic to a 100-98 victory over the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
Orlando, winners of seven of the last eight and best in the Eastern Conference at 13-4, trailed by 15 midway through the third quarter before Carter helped the Magic rally. He had missed a majority of the first half after needing stitches for a cut lip when he was inadvertently hit in the face midway through the first quarter.
But Orlando nearly squandered a 10-point fourth quarter lead after going up 91-81 on J.J. Redick's three-point play with 5:27 to go.
Milwaukee, which has lost four straight, tied it when rookie Brandon Jennings, who finished with 18 points, hit a three to tie it at 95 with 2:40 to play.
After the teams traded baskets and a free throw each, Carter missed a layup, Howard got an offensive rebound and Rashard Lewis hit an 11-footer to give the Magic a 100-98 lead with 44 seconds left.
Ersan Ilyasova, who finished with 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, missed a three-point attempt that would have given Milwaukee the lead. Luke Ridnour, who had 20 points, grabbed the offensive rebound but missed a 13-footer.
The Bucks elected not to foul with 27 seconds left and Carter missed a layup, but Howard tapped it up in the air several times and Matt Barnes grabbed the final rebound as time expired.
Milwaukee took a 68-53 lead on a three-pointer by Jennings midway through the third, but squandered it when Carter, Lewis and Jason Williams sparked a 20-4 run to give Orlando a 73-72 lead in the fourth. Lewis finished with 14 points and Williams had 12.
Milwaukee was without Andrew Bogut (left leg sprain), Michael Redd (sore left knee) and top defender Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (left foot sprain).
NOTES: Carter missed over 13 game minutes getting the stitches. ... Howard has 15 double-doubles in 18 career games against Milwaukee. ... Barnes said he planned to appeal a US$20,000 fine handed down Saturday by the NBA for throwing a basketball into the stands following Miami's 99-98 last-second win on Wednesday. ... A Sesame Street production pushed the tip-off back 30 minutes. The Bucks' court and hoops weren't installed and ready for play until two hours before the tip.
MILWAUKEE -- Vince Carter scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half after getting four stitches and Dwight Howard added 25 points and 20 rebounds to rally the Orlando Magic to a 100-98 victory over the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
Orlando, winners of seven of the last eight and best in the Eastern Conference at 13-4, trailed by 15 midway through the third quarter before Carter helped the Magic rally. He had missed a majority of the first half after needing stitches for a cut lip when he was inadvertently hit in the face midway through the first quarter.
But Orlando nearly squandered a 10-point fourth quarter lead after going up 91-81 on J.J. Redick's three-point play with 5:27 to go.
Milwaukee, which has lost four straight, tied it when rookie Brandon Jennings, who finished with 18 points, hit a three to tie it at 95 with 2:40 to play.
After the teams traded baskets and a free throw each, Carter missed a layup, Howard got an offensive rebound and Rashard Lewis hit an 11-footer to give the Magic a 100-98 lead with 44 seconds left.
Ersan Ilyasova, who finished with 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, missed a three-point attempt that would have given Milwaukee the lead. Luke Ridnour, who had 20 points, grabbed the offensive rebound but missed a 13-footer.
The Bucks elected not to foul with 27 seconds left and Carter missed a layup, but Howard tapped it up in the air several times and Matt Barnes grabbed the final rebound as time expired.
Milwaukee took a 68-53 lead on a three-pointer by Jennings midway through the third, but squandered it when Carter, Lewis and Jason Williams sparked a 20-4 run to give Orlando a 73-72 lead in the fourth. Lewis finished with 14 points and Williams had 12.
Milwaukee was without Andrew Bogut (left leg sprain), Michael Redd (sore left knee) and top defender Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (left foot sprain).
NOTES: Carter missed over 13 game minutes getting the stitches. ... Howard has 15 double-doubles in 18 career games against Milwaukee. ... Barnes said he planned to appeal a US$20,000 fine handed down Saturday by the NBA for throwing a basketball into the stands following Miami's 99-98 last-second win on Wednesday. ... A Sesame Street production pushed the tip-off back 30 minutes. The Bucks' court and hoops weren't installed and ready for play until two hours before the tip.