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After going through the classification matches with nothing to play, Mike Budenholzer saw his side stutter in the opener of their first-round series only to find themselves on the wrong side of a surprising double-digit loss. In Game 2, the Bucks were more like the team with the best regular season record in the league as they won in double digits to tie the series. Can Nikola Vucevic carry the Magic on his back and knock the basketball world out for the second time in this series?
This is a pivotal match 3 of the first round of a Eastern Conference playoffs on hardwood in the NBA bubble in the Sunshine State. The head of the series Milwaukee Bucks are the ‘road’ team by default as they face the eighth seed Orlando Magic Saturday afternoon. Orlando won the series opener, beating Milwaukee 122-110 on Tuesday night to make the series first blood. Milwaukee rebounded in Game 2 with a 111-96 victory Thursday to tie the series and give them some momentum. Which team takes the lead in the series 2-1 by winning in this competition?
Milwaukee Bucks look to build momentum after Game 2 win
Milwaukee rebounded from being played poorly in Game 1 of the series by ending Orlando’s offensive offense in Game 2 to derail the series. The Bucks held a team under 100 for the first time since the restart and are looking to build on that in the future. Milwaukee trailed only once in the game at 5-4 before beating Orlando 21-8 the remainder of the first quarter to take a 12-point lead. The Bucks were leading the rest of the save by double digits, except for a few seconds when the Magic made it a nine-point game with under four minutes to go. Milwaukee shot 47.2 percent from the floor, including 15 of 41 three-pointers, and led the glass 57-42 to overcome 20 turnovers. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in the victory.
The Greek Freak racked up 25 points and 20 rebounds in under minutes EVER in a playoff game.
28 PTS | 20 REB | 5 AST | 31:36 MINUTES pic.twitter.com/KjTmOxpM52
– Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) Aug 21, 2020
The Bucks come into this game ninth in the playoffs averaging 110.5 points per fight. Milwaukee is second in rebound with 52 rebounds per game and second in the league with 27 assists per game. The Bucks are seventh in the league in the playoffs in terms of defense as they allow an average of 109 points per night. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with 29.5 points, 18.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Eric Bledsoe contributes 14 points plus six assists per night while Brook Lopez gains 12.5 points per game. The Bucks need more Khris Middleton, Wesley Matthews, Pat Connaughton, George Hill, Kyle Korver, Donte DiVincenzo, Marvin Williams and Robin Lopez to look like the team that drove the opposition in the regular season. Milwaukee is tied for eighth in field goal percentage as they shoot 45.3% from the floor in the playoffs. The Bucks are tied for sixth hitting 14.5 three-pointers per night. Milwaukee stands 10e in a three-point percentage from the field as they hit 34.9% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Orlando Magic hopes to bounce back
Orlando rocked the Bucks in the series opener, but they were unable to adjust and adjust in Game 2 only to end up being beaten. The Magic is hoping to bounce back and regain the lead from the seeded Bucks. Orlando’s only lead in the game came at 5-4 with 9:04 left in the first quarter before quickly dropping a 15-6 run to hang out 19-11 with four minutes left in the first quarter. The Magic haven’t been this close after the first quarter as they haven’t drawn more than nine people in the last three quarters. Orlando shot just 34.8 percent from the field, including seven of 34 from beyond the arc, and was beaten 57-42 on the boards in the game. Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 32 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
? Highlights of the post-match game of the second game ? pic.twitter.com/GT4o2RxXFO
– Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) Aug 21, 2020
Magic stands 10e in the playoffs by scoring the offense as they average 109 points per fight. Orlando is tied for eighth in rebounding with 45 boards per night as they are tied for seventh with 23.5 assists per game. The Magic are eighth in the playoff defense standings, allowing an average of 110.5 points per game. Nikola Vucevic leads the team with 33.5 points plus 12 rebounds per fight in the playoffs. Terrence Ross accumulates 15 points per night, Markelle Fultz shoots 13 points plus 4.5 assists, DJ Augustin gains 10.5 points plus eight assists and Evan Fournier is good for 10.5 points per fight. James Ennis III, Khem Birch, Gary Clark and Wes Iwundu are to contribute to the rotation.
Aaron Gordon, who has not played in the playoffs, is questionable here with a hamstring injury while Michael Carter-Williams is uncertain with a foot injury. Orlando is 14e in the playoffs when it comes to field goal percentage as they shoot 42.1% from the field. Magic is tied for 11e by shooting down 11.5 three points per night. Orlando is 14e in three-point shooting as they connect to 31.1% of their shots beyond the arc.
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