The Milwaukee Bucks lost 130-91 to the Orlando Magic on the second night of a back-to-back for the home team, who played shorthanded without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter, Jr. Bobby Portis led the Bucks’ attack with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Paolo Banchero cooked the Bucks with a game-high 33 points for the Magic.
Game Recap
The first quarter saw the Bucks’ limited offensive options on full display. The Magic jumped out to a 7-0 start and largely held serve as both teams shot poorly
and generally showed limited interest in playing an NBA basketball game. After one, it was Magic 25, Bucks 15.
Quarter Two presented the fans with the illusion that this would be a game worth staying past halftime for. The teams both found their offensive rhythm after the doldrums of the opening frame. An entertaining, back-and-forth affair it was. Of note, Ousmane Dieng connected with Jerico Sims on four highlight dunks, and Bobby Portis poured in most of his team-high 18 points. The Bucks had no answer for Paolo Banchero, who headed to the locker room with 26 points on near-perfect shooting. Orlando led 67-55 at half.
The Bucks forgot to show up for the third quarter again, allowing the Magic to stretch a 12-point halftime lead into a 30-point beatdown as the matchup limped to the final frame. The quarter started with a 16-3 Magic run and largely continued in that vein. Bucks turnovers became uncontested dunks, or three-pointers, for the Magic. The rout was on, and the home team needed their crying towels. Orlando was ahead 100-70 entering the final period.
Among the few remaining people in Fiserv Forum, Thanassis Antetokounmpo entered the game with 9:22 left. He provided an emotional lift to the 17 remaining fans.
Stat That Stood Out
46.2%. That’s the Bucks’ free-throw shooting percentage. On a night that saw the team find many ways to embarrass themselves, this one was particularly brutal.
