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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- With Ray Allen out, Tim Thomas made sure
the Milwaukee Bucks didn't let a chance to clinch the final playoff
berth in the Eastern Conference slip away Monday night.
Thomas scored three baskets in the closing minutes to finish
with 21 points, and Glenn Robinson's breakaway dunk with 21.9
seconds remaining broke the final tie and gave the Bucks an 85-83
victory over the Orlando Magic.
|  | | Orlando's Darrell Armstrong, left, and Ben Wallace watch as Sam Cassell passes to Bucks teammate Ervin Johnson. |
The teams began the night tied for the eighth spot with two
games remaining. Orlando (40-41) had to win to keep its hopes alive
because Milwaukee (41-40) had clinched the season series between
the clubs by winning three previous meetings by an average margin
of 14 points.
"It was a struggle the whole year, and now we have a new season
ahead of us," said Thomas, who had eight points in the fourth
quarter after Allen left the game with a sprained left knee.
"I just wanted to win. I didn't care in what fashion. I knew it
was time to step up."
Thomas thrived while Orlando focused on slowing Sam Cassell and
Robinson.
Cassell had 19 points and 10 assists, and Milwaukee won despite
getting just 12 points from Allen, who sprained his left knee
during a scramble for a loose ball in the final minute of the third
quarter and did not return.
The Bucks plan to examine the knee again Tuesday, but Allen said
the injury shouldn't keep him out of Wednesday night's
regular-season finale against Washington.
"It's fine," he said. "I'll be ready."
Robinson only made five of 16 shots, but had 11 rebounds and was
in the right place at the right time on the fast break that
produced the winning basket. Cassell set it up with a steal, and
spotted Robinson streaking toward the Bucks' basket.
Chucky Atkins missed a 3-point attempt on Orlando's last
possession, and Milwaukee's Darvin Ham batted the rebound into the
backcourt as the final seconds ticked off and the Magic's
improbable challenge for a postseason spot came to an end.
This was expected to be a year in which Orlando struggled after
deciding to rebuild its roster from the ground up. But the team
hustled its way into playoff contention and nearly pulled off a big
comeback Monday night after falling behind by 19 in the first half.
"It's not a lot you can say to them," first-year coach Doc
Rivers said, speaking slowly to control his emotions.
"I basically told them they were the best team I had ever seen.
Not the greatest team, but the best team. They are an amazing
group. ... This is tough. I played a lot of years in this league
and had a lot of tough losses, but I don't know when I have ever
felt worse for a group of guys."
Atkins led Orlando, which wiped out a 19-point first-half
deficit and took its first lead late in the fourth quarter, with 18
points. Another reserve, Pat Garrity, had 15 points and Darrell
Armstrong added 13 for the Magic.
Thomas made three clutch baskets for the Bucks down the stretch,
tying the game at 79, 81 and 83 before Milwaukee went ahead for
good.
"Tim has been playing right along side us all year," Allen
said. "He's done equally as good a job as I would do, or Sam would
do, or Glenn. He's a guy who can carry this team at any point
during a game."
Orlando missed nine of its first 10 shots and turned the ball
over seven times while falling behind 20-3 in the first nine
minutes of the game. The Bucks built the lead to 19 before the
Magic gradually worked their way back into it with help from a 19-9
run that spanned much of the second quarter.
The Bucks only got two points from Allen and Robinson while
Orlando was making the comeback, with Allen hitting the only shot
he took in the period and Robinson going 0-for-2 to finish the half
1-for-8.
The Magic pulled within one with 1:05 remaining in the half, but
Milwaukee scored six quick points to lead 43-36 at the break. The
Bucks threatened to pull away again twice in the second half before
Orlando finally caught them midway through the fourth quarter.
Game notes
The playoff berth is the second straight for the Bucks under second-year coach George Karl. ... Allen averaged 29.3 points in Milwaukee's first three games against Orlando, but only took nine shots in 32 minutes Monday. ... Ervin Johnson had 13 rebounds and Ham had 11 for the Bucks.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Orlando Clubhouse
Bucks clinch playoff berth but lose Allen
RECAPS
Milwaukee 85
Orlando 83
Indiana 92
Philadelphia 90
San Antonio 100
Vancouver 93
Minnesota 101
Golden State 96
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Doc Rivers says the shots were just not falling for Orlando.
wav: 131 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pat Garrity says the Magic came out unfocused.
wav: 82 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Sam Cassell says Orlando just keeps coming at you on defense.
wav: 125 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Magic coach Doc Rivers feels bad for his players.
wav: 118 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
It was a tough, physical game for George Karl and the Bucks.
wav: 68 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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