Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - The
Milwaukee Bucks open their season while the
Philadelphia 76ers play their first home game of the year when the two battle Wednesday at the First Union Center.
The Sixers fell in their season-opener on Tuesday at Orlando, 95-88, as Tracy McGrady poured in 31 points to lead the Magic to victory.
Keith Van Horn and Aaron McKie paced Philadelphia with 19 points apiece. Van Horn also grabbed 10 rebounds in his 76ers' debut. Allen Iverson had 18 points for Philadelphia, but made only 7-of-25 shots from the floor. Iverson did not hit a field goal over the final 16 minutes of the contest.
Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch were acquired in the off-season from New Jersey in exchange for center Dikembe Mutombo. MacCulloch ended with 13 points. Brian Skinner pulled down 10 rebounds in his first game for Philadelphia.
The Bucks will begin their 35th Anniversary season on Wednesday. It also marks the 18th consecutive season that Milwaukee will open on the road.
Last year, Milwaukee appeared to be a lock for the playoffs. However, the Bucks dropped 14 of their final 19 contests and missed the postseason for the first time in four years. Milwaukee finished with a 41-41 record.
In hopes of improving the club's chemistry, Milwaukee traded forward Glenn Robinson in the offseason to Atlanta in exchange for forward Toni Kukoc, Leon Smith and a 2003 first-round draft pick.
Robinson played eight seasons for Milwaukee after being selected first overall by the Bucks in 1994, but recently fell out of favor with teammates and head coach George Karl.
Milwaukee is hoping that rookie big men Dan Gadzuric and Marcus Haislip can give their squad a much-needed boost this season.
Bucks starting guard Ray Allen (ankle) and starting forward Anthony Mason (hamstring) are questionable for Wednesday's game.
The Bucks finished with a 4-3 mark in the preseason.
Philadelphia won the last three meetings with the Bucks last season, including two at Milwaukee, after dropping the first matchup of the 2001-02 season. The Sixers have taken four of the last five meetings overall and 10 of 13. Milwaukee has dropped four of its last six at Philly.
