MILWAUKEE – In a thrilling contest, Paolo Banchero shined with 29 points, and Cole Anthony contributed 22 points, leading the Orlando Magic to a nail-biting 111-109 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. This win ended a challenging five-game losing streak for the Magic while halting the Bucks’ four-game winning stretch.
The Magic gained control early in the encounter, securing a lead slightly over three minutes in and extending it to 95-80 with fewer than nine minutes remaining. However, the Bucks launched a comeback.
Holding onto a slim 111-109 advantage, the Magic faced a tense moment when Taurean Prince of Milwaukee snatched the ball from Anthony. This turnover provided Milwaukee with a sideline inbound opportunity near Orlando’s bench with just 6.6 seconds left. AJ Green delivered the ball to Damian Lillard, whose 3-point effort was off target due to the defensive efforts of Franz Wagner and Banchero.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was a standout for Milwaukee, recording 37 points and 11 rebounds. Lillard also played a key role, contributing 26 points, yet the Bucks endured their second defeat in a span of ten games.
In summary, the Magic’s narrow triumph was a much-needed boost, especially after enduring heartbreak in their last three games, which they lost by an aggregate margin of only five points. By flipping the script on this road game, Orlando kicked off a five-game away stretch on a positive note.
Meanwhile, the Bucks missed a significant chance to bolster their record before a challenging lineup of games. Their next eight contests are against formidable opponents with winning records.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Milwaukee, down 109-106, watched as Lillard’s attempt at a drive was swatted away by Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Initially, officials conceded possession to Milwaukee, but Orlando’s coach, Jamahl Mosley, challenged the decision successfully. A thorough review revealed the ball had gone out off Lillard, allowing Anthony to connect with Caldwell-Pope for a crucial dunk, thus pushing their lead to 111-106 with 25.9 seconds left on the clock.
One telling stat was Orlando’s bench dominance, outscoring the Bucks 26-14 with Anthony Black accounting for 11 of those points.
Looking forward, the Bucks will host Cleveland on Sunday, while the Magic travel for a matchup against Houston on Monday.
