CASPER
New member
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic have a lot to work on over the final four games of the season if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Dwight Howard had 18 points and 17 rebounds, Jameer Nelson scored 17 and the Magic overcame a poor shooting night to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 78-72 on Tuesday.
Coupled with Atlanta's 97-90 loss to San Antonio, the Magic clinched the No. 4 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. Orlando won three of four in the season series to improve to 16-5 in its last 21 meetings against the Bucks.
Hedo Turkoglu, who finished with 12 points and hit a big jumper to help secure the win, said locking up the fourth seed is a secondary thought right now.
"We're not really thinking about that," Turkoglu said. "We're just playing as a group to get better as we're getting close to the playoffs. When the time comes ... we just have to be conditioned right and be at the highest level we can and try to do our best."
Orlando got off to a fast start and tapered off from there. It shot just 38 percent, missing its final 19 attempts from the 3-point line.
Milwaukee's dwindling playoff hopes took a big hit. Entering Tuesday, any combination of two Bucks losses or victories by idle Indiana eliminated them from postseason contention. Milwaukee could be officially eliminated Wednesday if it loses at Miami.
Drew Gooden scored 18 points for the Bucks, and Keyon Dooling finished with 10.
Dwight Howard had 18 points and 17 rebounds, Jameer Nelson scored 17 and the Magic overcame a poor shooting night to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 78-72 on Tuesday.
Coupled with Atlanta's 97-90 loss to San Antonio, the Magic clinched the No. 4 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. Orlando won three of four in the season series to improve to 16-5 in its last 21 meetings against the Bucks.
Hedo Turkoglu, who finished with 12 points and hit a big jumper to help secure the win, said locking up the fourth seed is a secondary thought right now.
"We're not really thinking about that," Turkoglu said. "We're just playing as a group to get better as we're getting close to the playoffs. When the time comes ... we just have to be conditioned right and be at the highest level we can and try to do our best."
Orlando got off to a fast start and tapered off from there. It shot just 38 percent, missing its final 19 attempts from the 3-point line.
Milwaukee's dwindling playoff hopes took a big hit. Entering Tuesday, any combination of two Bucks losses or victories by idle Indiana eliminated them from postseason contention. Milwaukee could be officially eliminated Wednesday if it loses at Miami.
Drew Gooden scored 18 points for the Bucks, and Keyon Dooling finished with 10.
