Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks (Nov. 22, 2021): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic are back for a second matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, hoping to carry over the momentum of their fourth-quarter run.
Orlando Magic (4-13) at Milwaukee Bucks (9-8)
Time/TV: 8 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
WATCH MAGIC-BUCKS ON FUBO TV
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Line via WynnBet: Bucks by 12
Tickets: $18-$343 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Bucks 117, Magic 108 in Milwaukee on Nov.20; Tonight in Milwaukee; Dec. 28 in Orlando; Dec. 30 in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 99.0 | 102.6 | 111.0 | 49.2 | 27.9 | 15.8 | 21.3 |
| Milwaukee | 100.2 | 106.9 | 107.2 | 52.0 | 24.4 | 13.7 | 22.9 |
OMD Prediction
Playing back-to-back games against the same opponent is always a bit tricky. The Orlando Magic took a big punch from the Milwaukee Bucks on the back end of a rough back-to-back. The day to compose themselves in Milwaukee will surely help. As Robin Lopez put it after the game, the Magic are indeed playing better and responding to runs. They are still painfully inexperienced and struggling to stay consistent.
Orlando is fighting back though. And that was clear in the fourth quarter when deep bench players got their chance and nearly erased a 26-point deficit from early in the fourth quarter. That is something. Something the Bucks may remember after they had to put their starters back in the game when the deficit got to as low as five points.
As always, these are chances for the Magic to test where they are and see if they have improved. Although that will be tougher with Cole Anthony and Gary Harris out.
38. 112. 89. Prediction. 95
3 Keys To Watch
Life without Cole Anthony
The Orlando Magic announced Monday afternoon they will be without Cole Anthony for the second straight game with a sprained right ankle. That loss is a pretty big one. It is not merely the 19.6 points per game and 50.4-percent effective field goal percentage. He just runs the team better than anyone else.
The on/off numbers are pretty harrowing. The Magic have a -1.2 net rating with Cole Anthony on the floor (currently trailing only the little-used Mychal Mulder). The team’s net rating drops to a team-worst -20.6 net rating when he is off the court. That is a huge disparity and one of the biggest in the league.
Orlando simply does not function well with Anthony out — most notably a 107.7 offensive rating with Anthony on the floor compared to 89.7 when he is off the floor. The Magic are going to struggle to generate consistent scoring punch without Anthony’s threat.
Incredible Giannis
It deserves a moment to take a step back and appreciate what Giannis Antetokounmpo is able to do. He recorded the fastest 30-point, 20-rebound, 5-assist game in league history with 32 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in just 30 minutes of play. It would have been fewer if the Magic had not made the game close in the fourth quarter.
The Magic really struggled to wall up and keep Antetokounmpo out of the paint. The team had Wendell Carter struggle with fouls as he waded into the paint. Franz Wagner got overpowered a bit going up against him. It was a rough outing. Guarding Giannis remains the impossible puzzle to solve.
Hampton’s time
R.J. Hampton has gotten the short end of the stick with minutes it seems. It was predictable before the season that he might be the young player who struggled to find his minutes when everyone was healthy. It was never that the Magic did not want to develop him. But it was going to be tough to find him minutes.
Hampton had to earn those minutes. And after a rough start to the season where he looked sped up and a bit out of place as the emergency point guard, he has started to find his groove. Especially as a pesky defender and increasingly as a shooter. Hampton is averaging 9.1 points per game and hitting 51.8-percent of his shots and 50.0-percent of his 3-pointers in 18.8 minutes per game in his last nine games.
Per-36 minutes, Hampton is averaging 17.4 points per 36 minutes in that same stretch. He is playing with a lot of poise and control too, a necessary addition to his game.
Next. Orlando Magic's only way to learn is to try again. dark
Hampton has been begging for an opportunity. Fans have sensed as though he has earned the opportunity too. Injuries are going to push him most likely into the starting lineup for Monday’s game.