Orlando Magic Grades: Milwaukee Bucks 118, Orlando Magic 108
The Orlando Magic found themselves down early and rallying late. But they could not get over the hump against a strong Milwaukee Bucks team.
38. Final. 118. 89. 108
Giannis Antetokounmpo takes up a lot of attention. That is what MVP players do. Without the Orlando Magic’s top defender in Aaron Gordon, out with lower back tightness suffered in Friday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the task to contain him got even bigger.
Jonathan Isaac did not help matters, picking up two fouls in short order and having to play a bit more hands off the rest of the game. The Orlando Magic had to be on a string, focused and tight defensively to have any chance to defeat the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks.
Especially on Antetokounmpo. He is a train darting toward the basket with length and strength to go through any defender. It would be a truly team effort to lock down the paint and force him into uncomfortable jumpers.
Let Milwaukee sit here and prove that there are plenty of other players that can burn you. And that too can open up things for Antetokounmpo.
After Orlando rallied to cut the lead to four points in the fourth quarter, it was these strong supporting players who helped Milwaukee put the game away. Khris Middleton drained a 3-pointer immediately after to give the Bucks some much-needed cushion. And then it was Eric Bledsoe taking over from there.
Bledsoe scored 30 points, knifing his way through the lane and hitting shots from the perimeter with alarming accuracy. The Magic really never had any answers in a 118-108 loss at the Amway Center. They were playing catch-up from the very beginning — both from being down their best defender and with their struggles to start the game.
Orlando came on strong late to shoot 47.3 percent from the floor — including 14 of 32 from beyond the arc. But Milwaukee had already taken advantage of every little mistake Orlando made to put the team in a double-digit hole early. The Magic committed just eight turnovers, but the Bucks still turned that into 31 fast-break points, taking advantage of plenty of the Magic’s misses.
Orlando had just two fast-break points, a steal and dunk from Terrence Ross in the third quarter. These little advantages are too much for a team to overcome. Especially since Orlando’s defensive rhythm has become increasingly shaky.
Stretched too thin, the Magic found themselves unwinding early and unable to reel the Bucks completely back in late.
C+. A lot of players needed to step up with <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC
Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC. B-. There is no comeback in this game without <a href=. C
B. The Orlando Magic asked <a href=. SG. Orlando Magic. JONATHON SIMMONS
C+. It has been a rough year for <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER
B. The Milwaukee Bucks were on a long road trip and are headed home after a few days in Orlando waiting for this game. This had a bit of a trap game written all over it. Giannis Antetokounmpo was good but not superb. They kind of skated through the game.<p>Milwaukee took care of its business and then just kind of coasted through much of the second half. That is what really good teams like Milwaukee can do. Their “B” game is enough against teams like the Orlando Magic who will struggle.</p><p>They got a big boost from Eric Bledsoe. He scored 30 points on 12-for-14 shooting. That kept the Bucks working at an even pace throughout the game. The Magic had few options at point guard who could handle his size and he took full advantage — really from the first possession when he posted up <a rel=. 33-12. 1st East. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Next. Orlando Magic little things to finish big. dark
The Orlando Magic hit the road next to take on the Atlanta Hawks for the first time this season Monday in Atlanta. The Magic are now 3.5 games out of the final Playoff spot.