The Orlando Magic will tip-off against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 on Tuesday in a series that is set to see plenty of afternoon basketball.
The Orlando Magic have a tall order ahead of them going up against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The heavily favored Bucks have the best record in the NBA and the presumptive NBA MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Magic made the Playoffs and avoided the play-in series with some comfort. But injuries ravaged the roster throughout the season and especially during the seeding round.
Orlando will still get its chance to topple the giants of the league. Everyone starts every series at 0-0 and the goal is simply to get to four wins before the other team.
To watch them, fans will have to be ready for some afternoon basketball.
The Magic will open their second straight playoff appearance on Tuesday with a 1:30 p.m. tip-off at The Field House inside the NBA campus. In fact, three of the four games to start the series will see afternoon tips.
The Magic’s first-round series against the Bucks is below:
.@OrlandoMagic 2020 @NBA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE RELEASED pic.twitter.com/5CJlD7Bs5S
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) August 13, 2020
- Game 1: Tuesday, August 18 (1:30 p.m., TNT)
- Game 2: Thursday, August 20 (6 p.m., ESPN)
- Game 3: Saturday, August 22 (1 p.m., TNT)
- Game 4: Monday, August 24 (1:30 p.m., NBATV)
- Game 5: Wednesday, August 26 (TBA)
- Game 6: Friday, August 28 (TBA)
- Game 7: Sunday, August 30 (TBA)
- All games will air on FOX Sports Florida
The Magic certainly have their work cut out for them. They lost all four games against the Bucks this season, some by a massive amount. The average margin of victory in those games was Bucks by 17.0 points per game. The closest game was a nine-point game in December.
Orlando is hoping to be healthy again too.
Markelle Fultz was cleared to rejoin the starting lineup and started in Thursday’s seeding round finale against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The team has played its last three games without Aaron Gordon (strained hamstring), Evan Fournier (non-COVID illness), Michael Carter-Williams (strained tendon in his foot) and Terrence Ross (quarantine after an excused absence).
The Magic are hopeful to have all four of them back by Tuesday’s Game 1.
Fournier did a pregame workout, shooting for the first time since he was sick after he said he was not able to do anything for the last few days. Ross is expected to clear quarantine on Saturday. Gordon said in media availability Wednesday that he will be ready to play for Game 1.
The Magic will have their work cut out for them even at full strength.
Afternoon starts are notoriously difficult though. Teams usually come out a bit sluggish and preparedness and intensity help teams with the early starts.
While every team has had their share of early starts during the restart, it is still a major adjustment for players. That may play a small factor in the game.
At the end of the day, the playoffs are about matchups and lining up to see who wins. Orlando will get its opportunity starting Tuesday.