The Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-97 on Saturday night, led by Paolo Banchero’s 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Wagner brothers’ 43 points combined. Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, two nights after scoring 54 points in a defeat to Indiana on Thursday.
Due to a strained left calf, Damian Lillard did not play in the Bucks’ second game. Mo Wagner contributed 19 points and four rebounds off the bench for the Magic, while Franz Wagner scored 24 points. Suggs Jalen contributed 20 points.
After getting struck by a car, Kelly Oubre Jr. of the NBA’s 76ers was hospitalized and will miss a lot of time.
Basketball. The Cavaliers under Donovan Mitchell defeat the Warriors and Draymond Green is sent off.
The Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-97 on Saturday night, led by Paolo Banchero’s 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Wagner brothers’ 43 points combined. Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, two nights after scoring 54 points in a defeat to Indiana on Thursday.
Due to a strained left calf, Damian Lillard did not play in the Bucks’ second game. Mo Wagner contributed 19 points and four rebounds off the bench for the Magic, while Franz Wagner scored 24 points. Suggs Jalen contributed 20 points.
Giannis’ contentious ejection was captured on camera by the spectator next to Parker Johnson.
The Bucks’ 14-game winning streak against the Magic was snapped by the defeat, which also happened to be their first loss in Orlando since March 14, 2018. Antetokounmpo was dissatisfied with his team’s defense after the Magic attempted 35 free throws.
“In order to facilitate our defense, there are situations when you must risk your life and take a hit. We haven’t done that in the last two games,” he stated. I think we’re just being stagnant right now. We’re returning to our defensive posture and offering little assistance. We’re not doing enough to defend one another, and occasionally we just sit around whining when we lose the ball. We must break free from that mindset and quit feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Halfway through the second quarter, the Magic had a 9-0 run that put them ahead by double digits. The Bucks had nine mistakes and nine missed free throws in the first half, falling down 65-49.
Paolo Banchero continues to be combative for Magic
The Magic led by 16 points going into the fourth quarter, but the Bucks soon cut Orlando’s lead to 11 points after making their first six shots of the round, including 3-pointers from Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton. However, Jonathan Isaac made a 3-pointer, Banchero responded with a long jumper, and the Bucks never threatened again.
“They ran to cut it to eleven. We just got to the huddle, and I instructed everyone to just play the entire game with composure and aggression,” Banchero said. That’s the action we took. We truly deserved to win that game, in my opinion.”
After beginning the previous season 5-20, the Magic were now 5-4 after the victory, and coach Jamahl Mosley said that defeating the Bucks represented a breakthrough.
“It’s so important for our fans that they witness what our guys are doing right now, tonight,” Mosley stated. They sat down and guarded, playing with a certain tenacity. They accepted every task.”
After playing 17 minutes, the frequently injured Isaac concluded with 10 points, five rebounds, and a block. Magic guard Markelle Fultz was a late scratch despite playing 29 minutes in Thursday night’s loss to Atlanta following three games missed due to swelling in his left knee.