The Bucks reached the halfway point Thursday night at 26-15 and comfortably atop the Central Division. At the same time, they are on a two-game home losing streak with Allen shooting 6 for 30 (20%), including 1 for 15 from three-point range, in consecutive losses to Phoenix and Seattle.

At least today, the Bucks will return to the relative comfort of their own conference against New York in a nationally televised game. Glenn Robinson, who has missed the previous 14 games with a bruised left thigh, is expected to play for the first time since Dec. 28. Robinson probably will be eased back into the rotation from the bench, and his presence will no doubt be appreciated by a team that, because of injury and schedule concerns, has yet to realize its potential.

Asked to grade his team's performance after 41 of the 82 regular-season games, coach George Karl said, "Basketball-wise, we're probably a C. I'm amazed where we are at 26-15, because I don't think we've played great basketball."