The shorthanded Magic have been recreation Tuesday evening.
However finally, the firepower of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard proved an excessive amount of to beat. The All-Star Bucks duo rallied Milwaukee from an early deficit then held off the Magic late for within the first recreation of the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Milwaukee overcame an 18-point fourth quarter from Jalen Suggs that helped rally Orlando to a 107-106 lead with 40.1 seconds remaining. However Lillard scored 9 factors within the ultimate 52 seconds to assist thwart the Orlando upset bid.
With the win, the Bucks advance to the semifinal spherical in Las Vegas, the place they’re going to tackle the winner between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. A Magic group taking part in with out its two greatest gamers is eradicated from NBA Cup play.
The Magic earned their place within the NBA Cup knockout spherical regardless of taking part in 21 of their 26 earlier video games with out All-Star ahead Paolo Banchero, who’s been sidelined since Oct. 30 with a torn indirect. Then after they bought bought to Tuesday’s knockout spherical, they performed with out breakout ahead Franz Wagner, who suffered his personal torn indirect in Friday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
For the Magic, that meant a beginning lineup of Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Goga Bitadze, Wendell Carter Jr. and Tristan de Silva. With sturdy bench assist from Moritz Wagner and Anthony Black, the Magic opened a 33-25 lead and saved Orlando aggressive all through.
However the most effective two gamers on the courtroom suited up for the Bucks and finally powered the Milwaukee to victory. Antetokounmpo and Lillard mixed to attain 29 straight Bucks factors throughout a span that stretched from halfway by means of the second quarter by means of the final two minutes of the third. Milwaukee’s protection clamped down in a 3rd quarter that the Bucks gained, 20-13 to take an 80-72 benefit into the fourth.
However the Magic weren’t finished. They tied the sport on a number of events within the fourth quarter earlier than taking a 102-101 lead within the ultimate three minutes on a shot by Suggs. Wendell Carter Jr. free throws then put Orlando up 106-103 with 1:13 remaining.
However Lillard countered with a 3 to tie the sport at 106-106.
He then answered a Black free throw with a layup to retake the lead at 108-107.
He added 4 free throws within the ultimate 9 seconds to ice the sport for the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 37 factors, seven rebounds, two steals and 4 blocks. Lillard added 28 factors and 9 assists whereas hitting all 10 of his free throws. He scored 13 within the back-and-forth fourth quarter, together with 11 of Milwuakee’s final 13 factors.
Bobby Portis Jr. was large off the bench with 22 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. The Bucks overcame a sloppy evening of ball-handling as they turned the ball over 16 instances.
Suggs paced the Magic with 32 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 steals. Black scored 17 and Wagner added 13 factors and three rebounds off the bench.
