Even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks cruised to victory over the Orlando Magic thanks to a 20-6 run to end the third quarter.
The losses continue to pile up for the Orlando Magic. In their final road game of the year, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Orlando Magic 102-86 at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Monday.
Even without superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee was able to separate itself early in the fourth and beat Orlando handily. The Bucks outscored the Magic 28-19 in the final quarter.
Until late in the third quarter, Orlando played up to par with Milwaukee. The defensive intensity was there and they put together enough flashy plays to hold momentum for a solid portion of the game.
Milwaukee turned up the intensity in the final minutes of the third and the Magic failed to answer in the final period. The Bucks ran away with a game that appeared to be a closely contested game throughout.
Orlando failed to find any offensive rhythm. The Magic shot just 41.5 percent from the field. The Magic had no 3-point shot either. The team shot a putrid 5 for 24 from beyond the arc. Eventually, the team was unable to maintain its lead.
The Magic had the lead for most of the third quarter, but a late Bucks run would see the Bucks back in the lead 74-67 after three quarters. In all, Milwaukee finished the third quarter on a 20-6 run to pull ahead for good.
Orlando’s poor offense was never able to get going after that. And the Bucks pulled away in the fourth. The team lost its energy.
Throughout the season, one of Orlando’s most glaring weaknesses has been their bench. Even with a mix of G-League players, it seemed the bench had some fight tonight. The second unit cut down on a big first-period deficit and turned around what was a lackluster defensive effort from the starters.
The second unit fought hard, but the Magic still found themselves down at the half 45-42. Orlando took advantage of a short-handed Milwaukee team early on.
Both teams decided to push the pace early tonight. The first quarter was action-packed. But the Magic found themselves in a double-digit hole after one.
Orlando struggled defensively in the first quarter. Far too many open lanes to the rim for Milwaukee allowed the Bucks offense to thrive without Antetokounmpo.
Next: Orlando Magic see the power of the 3-pointer
The Orlando Magic conclude their 2018 season against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night at the Amway Center.