Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 126, Milwaukee Bucks 117
The Orlando Magic came out angry and desperate following a dispiriting effort Tuesday night. Hot shooting helped them douse the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo kept coming at the Orlando Magic like the freight train he is. No lead was safe as the Magic could not find an answer for the young all-star. Nothing ever feels safe. How could it for a 20-win team struggling at the bottom of the standings.
This game, despite Orlando’s early lead and prodigious shooting, was the kind of game the team has let slip by so many times. Following a nearly 40-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs the night before, a collapse would not be completely unheard of. It would not be unheard of without that circumstance.
No excuses though. The Magic were not going to let that effort Tuesday night sit. Someone was going to make sure it did not. Make it somebodies.
For every big run Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks threw at the Orlando Magic, Jonathon Simmons and D.J. Augustin seemed to have an answer. Or it was Mario Hezonja or Wesley Iwundu or Khem Birch or Nikola Vucevic. Whatever the team needed.
The Magic continually held off the Bucks throughout the night, behind Jonathon Simmons and D.J. Augustin’s scorching shooting for a 126-117 win at the Amway Center. The Magic came home triumphantly at home and erased the nasty taste of a five-game road losing streak.
Simmons and Augustin keyed the Magic’s offense, making a combined 13 of 21 3-pointers. Simmons made 7 of 12 on his own as the Magic hit 18 of 34. It was the kind of unsustainable 3-point shooting that made Orlando’s offense unstoppable early in the season. It pops out occasionally.
But most of those shots were also created with great ball movement and a patience on offense to find them. That was something sorely lacking throughout the road trip. And perhaps throughout the season.
The Magic were not perfect. They turned the ball over 17 times, struggling with the Bucks’ length. They squandered a 16-point first quarter lead as they always seem to do. And their defense at times looked disconnected. At a certain point, this became a straight shootout.
But the Magic were able to win that. They had the firepower to do so this night. Simmons, the dogged player who is now the Magic’s best creator with all the injuries this team faces, led the charge. He made up for a lackluster game Tuesday.
It seemed every part of the Magic were redeemed. And after falling into the depths of despair, they found a little something to be happy about.
JONATHON SIMMONS. A. Jonathon Simmons was a man on a mission from the opening tip. He was not going to let his team get embarrassed. And even without his insanely hot shooting, I am sure he would have found a way to get things going and help his team win. Simmons has that in him on occasion.<p>But when Simmons is on fire like he was Wednesday night, it is tough to stop him. The Magic have seen him have these kinds of special nights in the past. It is just not something you can expect from him every game. You just have to take advantage of them when they come.</p><p>Simmons scored a career-high 35 points on 11-for-22 shooting. He made 7 of his 12 3-pointers too. Most of those came off great ball reversals. But he was in rhythm. And that got every aspect of his game going.</p>. G/F. Orlando Magic
A. D.J. Augustin has quietly put up solid numbers and played well. Just never well enough to get noticed by these grades posts. We rarely mention him. That is because Augustin is mostly solid, never doing anything spectacular. He will hit shots when open and make the right play to keep the ball moving. Everyone else stirs the drink.<p>Augustin made his presence known in a big way against the Milwaukee Bucks, though. He hit shots time and time again and worked his way into the paint. He was the perfect point guard it seemed.</p><p>Augustin finished with 32 points, making six of his nine 3-pointers. Quite simply, he made shots at an unusual rate. That stood out. But he provided his overall solid play otherwise. And that is what the Magic needed to finish this game off.</p>. PG. Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN
A-. The Orlando Magic were desperately searching for some answer to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo throughout the game. Antetokounmpo finished with 38 points on 16-for-29 shooting. Orlando had a tough time corraling him. Even with wunderkind <a href=. F/C. Orlando Magic. KHEM BIRCH
<a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. B+
8th East. MILWAUKEE BUCKS. C+. The Milwaukee Bucks have to be scratching their heads after this one. This is a game the team absolutely has to have in the Eastern Conference playoff race and one they absolutely should have had. Gigantic efforts from Giannis Antetokounmpo should not go wasted.<p>And giving up 120-plus points to a struggling Orlando Magic team, no matter how hot they are shooting, is simply unacceptable. The defense for the Bucks simply was not effective enough. Milwaukee made run after run to try to overtake Orlando, and even took the lead in the third quarter. But the Bucks’ defense could not hold firm to stop the Magic. Orlando always had an answer.</p><p>That has to leave the Bucks a bit perplexed and disappointed. This game was all on them. They missed their opportunities and lost their shot at this one despite some strong offensive efforts.</p>. 36-32
Next: Writing is on the wall for Nikola Vucevic
The Orlando Magic continue their season-long homestand against the Boston Celtics on Friday.