Bucks Outlast Shorthanded Magic as Giannis and Dame Shine in NBA Cup Quarterfinals
The Orlando Magic showed grit Tuesday night, but the combined firepower of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard proved insurmountable. The Milwaukee Bucks overcame a late surge by the Magic to secure a 114-109 victory, advancing to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.
Despite an 18-point fourth quarter from Jalen Suggs, which briefly gave Orlando a 107-106 lead with just 40.1 seconds to play, the Bucks leaned on Lillard’s clutch heroics. The star guard poured in nine points in the final 52 seconds, including a dagger three-pointer and perfect free-throw shooting, to fend off the upset.
Magic Fight Hard Despite Missing Key Players
The Magic’s NBA Cup journey was impressive, particularly given their depleted roster. Orlando played without All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, sidelined since late October with a torn oblique, and breakout star Franz Wagner, who suffered a similar injury days before.
Forced to rely on a starting lineup of Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Goga Bitadze, Wendell Carter Jr., and Tristan da Silva, along with strong contributions from Moritz Wagner and Anthony Black off the bench, the Magic kept the Bucks on edge. They even held a 33-25 lead early in the game and stayed competitive throughout.
Giannis and Dame Dominate the Stage
Ultimately, Milwaukee’s star duo of Antetokounmpo and Lillard was the difference. The pair combined to score 29 consecutive Bucks points between the second and third quarters, propelling Milwaukee to an 80-72 lead entering the final frame.
Antetokounmpo finished with 37 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and four blocks, showcasing his dominance on both ends. Lillard added 28 points and nine assists, hitting all 10 of his free throws and scoring 13 in the tense fourth quarter, including 11 of the Bucks' final 13 points.
Bobby Portis Jr. also made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
Thrilling Fourth Quarter Duel
The final quarter featured back-and-forth drama. Suggs tied the game multiple times and gave the Magic a 102-101 lead with under three minutes left. Carter Jr.'s free throws extended Orlando’s lead to 106-103 with just over a minute remaining, setting the stage for Lillard’s heroics.
Lillard tied the game with a clutch three-pointer, then reclaimed the lead with a layup, and iced the game with flawless free-throw shooting.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Milwaukee advances to face the winner of the New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks matchup in Saturday's semifinal.
For Orlando, the loss marks the end of a valiant NBA Cup run, but the team’s resilience without its stars bodes well for the future. Suggs led the way with 32 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, while Black added 17 points and Wagner chipped in 13 off the bench.
In the end, the Bucks’ superstar tandem and timely execution carried them through a thrilling contest, one step closer to claiming the NBA Cup.
