The Orlando Magic got hit back in Game 2. With the series tied, the Magic will see if they can respond and take back control of the series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Series Tied 1-1)
Time/TV:
1 p.m./TNT, FOX Sports Florida
FOLLOW LIVE2020 Season Series:
in Orlando on Nov. 1;
in Milwaukee on Dec. 9;
in Milwaukee on Dec. 28;
in Orlando on Feb. 8
Playoff Series:Game 1 –
; Game 2 –
; Game 3 — Today at NBA Campus; Game 4 — Monday at 1:30 p.m.; Game 5 — Wednesday at TBD
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 105.3 | 105.7 | 102.8 | 53.4 | 25.2 | 17.7 | 24.6 |
| Orlando | 105.3 | 102.8 | 105.7 | 48.6 | 18.7 | 12.7 | 28.1 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic got hit in the mouth a bit in Game 2. The Milwaukee Bucks increased their physicality and put the Orlando Magic in a hole. They never truly recovered. Although they never lost the fight. This Magic team is going to fight. Even without Aaron Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams in the lineup again, they are going to continue to make things hard for the Bucks. But as everyone on Orlando says, the intensity is only going to continue to increase. The question for the Magic is how do they increase their intensity? They already have a tiny margin for error. The first quarter will again prove to be decisive. Keep it close or win the quarter, and this should be a game. Lose it and fall behind, and the game could play out the same as Game 2. What we have not seen is how the Magic handle a close game against this juggernaut of a team.
1) The Orlando Magic are trying to get their offense back on track as they look to retake the series lead against the Milwaukee Bucks, Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel writes.
2) Aaron Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams are out for Game 3 as they both continue to work back from injury.
3) The Milwaukee Bucks are confident Khris Middleton will be able to shake off his rough start to the series.
4) Stan Van Gundy says the Milwaukee Bucks are likely to stick to their same pick and roll coverages, giving Nikola Vucevic an outlet to score, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes.
5) One thing the Orlando Magic have done very effectively against the Milwaukee Bucks is slow down their vaunted fast-break attack, Jordan Treske of Behind the Buck Pass writes.
6) The Orlando Magic slowing down Giannis Antetokounmpo is front of mind in this series and it is proving to be a tall task, Spencer Henderson writes.
7) The Orlando Magic are doing what they have to do to get quality shots against the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense, Josh Cohen of OrlandoMagic.com writes.
8) Controlling the pace is among the big keys to the Orlando Magic’s chances at victory in Game 3.
9) Watching their fouling is among the big keys for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, Adam McGee of Behind the Buck Pass writes.
10) Pat Connaughton’s consistency could be the x-factor for the Milwaukee Bucks, Dalton Sell of Behind the Buck Pass writes.
11) The Orlando Magic’s “others” stepped up in Game 1, but they struggled in Game 2.
12) The Orlando Magic’s margin for error is far too small to get off to the slow start they had in Game 2.
13) Falling behind 2-0 was not an option for the Milwaukee Bucks and they played with that urgency, Eric Woodyard of ESPN writes.
14) The perception from Milwaukee Bucks writers is that Game 2 righted the ship and the Bucks’ vaunted defense finally woke up. But things still do not feel great for the Bucks, Mitchell Maurer of Brew Hoop writes.
15) Garrett Townsend of Orlando Pinstriped Post breaks down where things went wrong for the Orlando Magic in Game 2.
16) The Orlando Magic’s young players will prove to be a big difference in this series, Omar Cabrera writes.
17) The neutral court has made the playoffs ripe for upsets, Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes.
18) Nikola Vucevic has proven to be a catalyst for the Orlando Magic’s offense, shedding doubts born in last year’s Playoffs.
19) The Orlando Magic’s Game 1 win was no fluke, Tim Monaghan writes.
20) To keep competing with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Orlando Magic have to do the simple things exceptionally well.
21) Kyle Boone of CBS Sports has the Orlando Magic taking Tyrese Maxey from Kentucky in his first post-Lottery Mock Draft. Ian Levy of The Step Back has the Magic selecting Desmond Bane. Jason McIntyre of FOX Sports has the Magic taking Cole Anthony from North Carolina. Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated also has the Magic taking Anthony.
22) The uncertainty at the top of this year’s NBA Draft could mean a lot of teams are looking to move, John Hollinger of The Athletic writes.
23) The Orlando Magic’s long-term future has taken a hit with Mohamed Bamba sitting out these playoffs.