Henson helps Bucks topple Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Unheralded center John Henson scored a season-high 20 points and a grabbed seven rebounds in leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 104-96 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at the Amway Center.
The Bucks (7-8) never trailed after the first period. The Magic (6-11) lost their fourth consecutive game.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Reserves Michael Beasley, rookie Malcolm Brogdon and Greg Monroe scored 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Magic guard Evan Fournier led everyone with 27 points, but he scored only two in final period. Orlando center Nikola Vucevic, who lost his starting role, scored 17 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as a reserve. Forward Serge Ibaka had 19 points and six rebounds, and Elfrid Payton came off the bench to score 16. Point guard D.J. Augustin, in his first start of the season, had 11 points and five assists.
The Magic closed within 88-86 midway in the fourth on a 3-pointer by Vucevic, but the Bucks scored the next seven points, including two baskets by Henson, and grabbed the momentum they never lost.
The Bucks led 79-72 to start the fourth period. The Magic, after trailing by six at halftime, opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run that tied the game at 60. Fournier had 11 points in the third.
Milwaukee was on top 58-52 at intermission, riding a hot shooting start that included 12 points from Henson and 10 from Brogdon. Henson, who came into the game averaging just 4.6 points, made five of his eight shots in the first half.
The Bucks shot 58.3 percent (14 of 24 shots) in the first two periods, capitalizing on defensive lapses by the Magic.
Fournier led everyone early with 14 points, six assists and five rebounds in the first half. Vucevic had eight rebounds in 15 first-half minutes. The lineup changes helped the Magic offensively, but it hurt them on defense.
Augustin, in his first start this season, had nine points in the first quarter when the Magic led by as many as six points. The Bucks grabbed a 49-41 advantage on a basket by Henson midway through the second period.
NOTES: Magic C Bismack Biyombo and G D.J. Augustin started for the first time this season Sunday, replacing C Nikola Vucevic and G Elfrid Payton in a semi-major shakeup. F Aaron Gordon, who started the first eight games this season, returned to the starting lineup in place of Jeff Green (sore back). ... Bucks C John Henson moved into the starting lineup after not playing because of a coach's decision in Friday's loss to Toronto. ... Orlando committed a woeful 25 turnovers when it lost to the Bucks last week in Milwaukee. ... The Magic lost for only the second time in their past 21 meetings with the Bucks 19 in Orlando.