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Losing effort McGrady's playoff high wasted as Magic fall to Bucks
Updated: Monday April 23, 2001 8:40 AM
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Milwaukee Bucks made a good first impression, thanks to plenty of second-chance points. "More than a dunk or a 3-pointer, second-chance points kill an opponent," Ray Allen said. The Bucks beat Orlando 103-90 Sunday night in Game 1 of their playoff series despite poor shooting by their Big Three. Allen, Sam Cassell, and Glenn Robinson missed 19 of their first 24 shots and finished 17-of-52 (32 percent). Milwaukee, champions of the Central Division for the first time in 15 years, beat Orlando for the 10th consecutive time because Scott Williams got 19 points and a career playoff-high 16 rebounds. The Bucks outrebounded the Magic 59-42. That led to 25 second-chance points, 18 more than Orlando, which got 33 points from Tracy McGrady. "Scott was a monster tonight. He was right there every time, putting it back, and Ervin Johnson was right there putting it back," Allen said. "Those second-chance points, you can't write a script for that." And Robinson doesn't want an encore, either.
"We didn't bring our 'A' game, but we got defensive stops down the stretch and we got a lot of second-chance points," Robinson said. "But hopefully we won't miss as many shots in Game 2 as we did tonight." Game 2 is Wednesday night at the Bradley Center. "We haven't been getting much credit for having an inside presence, and I thought tonight Jason Caffey, Ervin Johnson and me provided a big lift while our Big Three was struggling to find their game," Williams said. The Magic used an 8-0 run, highlighted by McGrady's dunk and jumper, to pull to 94-90 with 2:17 left. But then it was Orlando's turn to go cold, and the Bucks scored the game's final nine points. Allen finished with 18 points, Cassell 16 and Robinson 14. Reserves Tim Thomas and Johnson added 12 each, though Thomas left in the fourth quarter after straining his back. "We can't let their energy guys [reserves] come in and play so well," McGrady said. "I think our big guys have to do so much helping on the Big Three that it's hard for them to get back to their man. We're asking them to do a lot." The only other Magic player in double figures was reserve Pat Garrity, who scored 14. The Bucks got 34 points from their reserves and 23 offensive Rebounds, compared with only 10 for the Magic. "I really felt that their 'others' have been beating us all season and they did it again," Magic head coach Doc Rivers said. Robinson had 12 rebounds, Johnson 10. Thomas was playing for the first time since injuring his right shoulder on April 10. He landed hard going for a rebound in the closing minutes and strained his back. The extent of his injury wasn't immediately known. "Tim hit the floor pretty hard," Bucks head coach George Karl said. "He wouldn't have taken himself out of a game like this. It appears to be a back strain. He is very important statistically to this team. He has played well against Orlando. Hopefully, we'll have him Wednesday." Milwaukee led 79-74 entering the fourth quarter. The Bucks, who owned the best home record (31-10) in the Eastern Conference, came out shooting poorly, quieting a home crowd that helps make the Bradley Center such a tough place to play. Their Big Three were just 5-for-24 before Allen sank two fadeaways that gave Milwaukee a 45-44 lead with 2:33 left in the first half. The Bucks didn't trail again. Orlando scored just six points in the final 6 1/2 minutes of the first half and trailed 49-46 at the break on Williams' tip-in at the buzzer. "We need to rebound better," McGrady said, "if we want to win the series."
Notes: Rivers made his NBA playoff coaching debut. He participated
in 81 playoff games during his career as a player. ... The Bucks
and Magic had never met in the playoffs. ... Orlando last beat
Milwaukee on April 9, 1999. ... Before the game, Karl sent a box of
doughnuts to TNT commentator Charles Barkley, who had bet against
Milwaukee winning the Central Division. Barkley refused to partake
in the treats. "You don't know how old those doughnuts are,"
Barkley told his studio colleagues. ... Karl said he left Jerome
Kersey off the playoff roster because he might need rookie Joel
Przybilla to play against big centers if the Bucks advance. ...
Rivers said Darrell Armstrong (groin) wouldn't have played were
this not a playoff game.
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