Orlando Magic Pummel Milwaukee Bucks In Eastern Conference Clash
The Orlando Magic didn’t just beat the Milwaukee Bucks; they effectively dismantled them 118-99, snapping Milwaukee’s run and reminding everyone that consistency is still elusive for this squad.
If you are looking for a silver lining, Kevin Porter Jr. did his thing, leading the way with 28 points, 7 assists, and 4 boards. But on the other side? Anthony Black looked like an absolute world-beater, dropping 26 points and controlling the flow of the game in a way that left the Bucks’ defense scrambling.
A First Quarter Only a Mother Could Love
If you tuned in 10 minutes late, you probably did yourself a huge favor. The opening frame was the basketball equivalent of watching paint dry, if the paint was also turning the ball over.
It was ugly. We’re talking about a combined 10 turnovers (seven courtesy of the Bucks) and 21 missed shots. It was sloppy, disjointed, and frankly, hard to watch. For the first six minutes, it felt like nobody actually wanted to win. Kevin Porter Jr. was the only one in a Bucks jersey who seemed to realize the game had started, providing the only real spark of offense.
But then, the Magic played their trump card. Franz Wagner, finally back on the court after nursing that nasty ankle injury, checked in and immediately flipped the switch. You could feel the energy shift in the arena. Wagner got out in transition, pushed the pace, and suddenly, Orlando looked like a modern NBA offense again. If not for a late bomb from Porter Jr., the hole would have been much deeper than the 27-22 deficit at the end of the first.
The Cam Thomas Debut and False Hope
Cam Thomas officially logged his first minutes as a Buck. To start the second quarter, there was a glimmer of hope. Bobby Portis got active, buckets were falling, and the game was tied at 31. For a moment, it looked like we had a real dogfight on our hands. But that hope was short-lived.
Black decided it was time to put on a show. He went into his bag, draining threes and nearly tearing the rim down with a dunk that would have been on highlights for a week if it landed. He pushed the Magic lead to 41-33, and while Ryan Rollins and AJ Green hit some massive threes to keep Milwaukee within shouting distance, the vibe was shifting. Despite Orlando shooting a miserable 3-of-20 from deep at one point, the Bucks still found themselves trailing 54-51 at the break.
The Third Quarter Avalanche
This is where the game was lost. The third quarter started tight with Porter and Myles Turner doing the heavy lifting. Milwaukee pulled within two, 64-66, and you started to think, “Okay, we can steal this.” Spoiler alert: They could not steal this.
The Magic went on a 7-2 run, and then, the floodgates opened. The Magic shooters, who couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half, suddenly turned into sharpshooters. Moe and Franz Wagner hit from deep. Jase Richardson joined the party.
After shooting a horrific 4-of-21 from three-point land in the first half, Orlando went a scorching 6-of-11 in the third quarter alone. Just like that, an 87-74 deficit stared the Bucks in the face heading into the fourth.
Turnovers and Rebounding Tell the Story
The fourth quarter was essentially a formality. Thomas finally got on the board with a drive to the rack, but Black responded immediately with a personal 6-0 run, including a highlight-reel alley-oop that put the Magic up 15.
When you look at the box score, the story writes itself. You cannot win in the NBA when you lose the possession battle this badly. The Bucks took 77 shots to Orlando’s 86. Why? Because Milwaukee coughed up the rock 19 times compared to Orlando’s 11. Add in the fact that the Magic nearly doubled the Bucks in offensive rebounds (11 to 6), and you have a recipe for a blowout.
