Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points and Khris Middleton had 18 as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Orlando Magic 113-91 on Saturday night.
The Bucks have won six consecutive games to start the season, one shy of the record set by the 1971-72 team.
Coming off a 125-95 blowout of the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road on Friday night in which they made 19 3-pointers on 46 attempts, both season highs, Milwaukee connected on just 10-of-30 shots from long range against the Magic.
Antetokounmpo added seven rebounds in a season-low 19 minutes, a night after playing just 23 minutes.
Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and nine rebounds for Orlando. D.J. Augustin added 11, all in the first half. The Magic shot 32 percent from the field overall and 23 percent for three-point range.
After a tightly contested first quarter in which Orlando led by five at one point, the Bucks took control in the second and built a 14-point lead at the half. Antetokounmpo had 15 first-half points, while Middleton had 12.
Milwaukee’s lead grew to 26 in the third with Antetokoumpo on the bench for the entire period. The Bucks closed the quarter on an 11-1 run and headed to the fourth with a 93-68 lead.
TIP-INS
Magic: Didn’t lead after first quarter. .The Bucks’ high-powered offense is getting a lot of attention but Orlando coach Steve Clifford sees another reason for Milwaukee’s early-season success. ”To me, their offense is one thing, but they were a top ten offense team last year,” Clifford said. ”It’s the defense though that is making a bigger difference.”
Bucks: Rookie Donte DiVincenzo had a season-best 15 points, including back-to-back baskets late in the third quarter, topping his previous high of nine points set Friday night. .Ersan Ilyasova pulled down 10 rebounds. .Coach Mike Budenholzer called a time out with a 27-point lead late in fourth quarter after his team surrendered an easy basket.
UP NEXT
Magic: Host Sacramento on Tuesday.
Bucks: Host Atlanta on Monday.
Courtesy: NBA.com
