The Milwaukee Bucks booked their ticket to the NBA Cup semifinals on Tuesday night with a close 114-109 win over the Orlando Magic. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and Damian Lillard had eight in the last minute with his total score of 28.
Milwaukee returns to the in-season tournament semifinals in Las Vegas this December. It’s the only team back for a second year. On Saturday, Milwaukee faces off against the winner of a quarter-final game on Wednesday, with the New York Knicks meeting the Atlanta Hawks.
Jalen Suggs had 32 points for short-handed Orlando but missed a go-ahead, 3-pointer attempt with 12 seconds remaining. Lillard was fouled and sank two free throws with 9.1 seconds left, then Suggs missed an attempt to tie with another 3.
Antetokounmpo calmly sank both free throws with 5 seconds to go on the clock, ensuring his Bucks’ victory.
Injuries marred the Magic, which had to lose both its forwards, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, with torn right obliques. Forward Jonathan Isaac sat out with a right hamstring strain and shooting guard Gary Harris with a left hamstring strain.
Orlando Magic‘s bench came to play in the first half, as they scored 28 points. Moritz Wagner and Anthony Black scored 13 and 10 respectively but did not see much of action in the second half of the game.
Bobby Portis played a huge role in helping the Bucks turn an early 11-point deficit into a win. He began well since he went for his first seven shots and scored 16 points in the first half. At the end of the game, he had contributed so much that he ended up with 22 points and 10 rebounds altogether.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton was the playmaker, with three consecutive assists at a decisive point in the game for Milwaukee. He found Giannis Antetokounmpo twice and then was able to get it out to Gary Trent Jr., who responded with a 3-pointer at the other end. That little stretch flipped the game upside down and helped fuel an 11-0, which put the Bucks on top, 78-70. Middleton didn’t have to score; he dished out eight assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 20 or more points in 22 successive games, shooting 50% or better. This streak marks the longest to begin an NBA season in league history and is only the third ever, following Shaquille O’Neal and Zion Williamson’s 25 games each. Antetokounmpo made 15 of 24 field-goal attempts.
They are going to play against New York or Atlanta this Sunday, and it is going to be a great game!
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