MAGIC 108, BUCKS 101 Not much in their defense Orlando has easy time in early going News Milwaukee Bucks

Orlando, Fla. - Yes, the Milwaukee Bucks' defense remains a work in progress.

That was all too evident Monday night, as the Bucks offered little resistance on the defensive end and fell to the Orlando Magic, 108-101, at Amway Arena.

The Bucks spotted the Magic a 10-point lead in the first quarter, allowed Orlando to shoot over 50% for most of the game, and made a frantic rally in the final 2 minutes that proved to be a case of too little, too late.

Throw in some turnovers and another lopsided free-throw deficit and it was a long night for the Bucks.

"We gave up almost 48% shooting, 39 fouls, 54 free throws and you're rarely going to win that game," said coach Scott Skiles.

Orlando made six of its first seven shots, nine of its first 12, shot 66.7%, and led after one quarter, 33-23. That set a negative tone defensively for the Bucks for the entire game.

"We didn't come out ready to play again," said Skiles. "Our defense was below average. So we tried scrambling around at the end and tried to steal one, but all those things add up against a good team like that and generally you're not going to win. Right at the beginning of the game, we were too soft. It's been an issue."

The Bucks started the game short-handed and their manpower situation only got worse as the game wore on.

They were without their starting guards, as Michael Redd remains out with an ankle sprain and Luke Ridnour was unable to play because of a knee injury he suffered Saturday in Charlotte.

Center Andrew Bogut, who had been effective offensively in the low post early in the game, left for good early in the third quarter with a bruised knee that he hurt while taking a charge on Dwight Howard in the first half.

Richard Jefferson led Milwaukee with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting, Charlie Villanueva added 17 points, and Bogut ended up with 16 points in 23 minutes.

The Bucks had no answer inside for Howard, who scored 24 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and shot 20 free throws, making 10. But Howard had plenty of help, as forwards Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points each.

Bucks guard Tyronn Lue, who got some extended playing time in the absence of Ridnour, thought Turkoglu was the one who created the defensive problems for the Bucks.

"We had a lot of breakdowns," said Lue. "A lot of it stemmed from Turkoglu being a great ball-handler and putting the (small forward) in the pick-and-roll. When they run the pick-and-roll with the (small forward), then the point guard - me and Ramon (Sessions) - we're in a different position that we're not used to being in. So it makes it kind of difficult, especially learning a new defensive scheme."

Shooting 57.5%, the Magic held a 58-47 halftime lead. Orlando led by 14 in the third quarter and took an 85-74 lead into the fourth. The Magic led by 12 with 1 minute 55 seconds left and the Bucks took a late charge to close within three in the closing seconds.

But their defense had already dug the Bucks into too big of a hole.

"I think it's obvious," said Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. "Every time we don't defend, it's hard for us to win the game. We can't afford to come out here and try to out-score these guys because they have an offense that's more established than our offense. We have a new team so our thing is to defend. Every night we come out there and defend, we give ourselves a chance to win."

Said Skiles, "We kept it close enough that we could make a run at the end, but that's getting to be a little bit of an old story now. I'm getting kind of tired of saying it, to tell you the truth."