The Magic Face A Test In Milwaukee

The Magic face a test in Milwaukee tonight a Bucks team who sit top of the Eastern Conference and have won 15 games straight!

The Stats

Orlando have a 26-36 record and sit 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando score 110.6 points per game (28th of 30) and concede 113.3 points per game (16th of 30).
The Magic are 17th in the NBA for pace.
Last time out the Magic took a hard fought win on the road in New Orleans over the Pelicans by 101-93.
The Magic have won 6 of the last 10 games.
Road form is not what the team would want, with only 11 wins in 31 games played.

The Bucks have a 44-17 record and currently sit top of the Eastern Conference.
At present the Bucks are on a 15 game winning streak, achieved in part whilst All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo had been absent with injury.
At home Milwaukee have been solid, having lost only 5 games this season. Their home record stands at 26 wins of 31 games played.
The Bucks score 114.9 points per game (13th of 30th) and concede only 111.1 points per game (4th of 30).
The Bucks are on the second night of a back-to-back. Last night on the road they won 118-104 against the Brooklyn Nets. Giannis scored 33 points, to go with 15 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Jevon Carter all had double digit scoring games.

Orlando listed Jonathan Isaac as questionable with the continued right hamstring injury.
Further for Orlando Caleb Houstan and Kevon Harris are now with the team, but only Houstan is likely to dress.
Milwaukee’s injury report had not been updated. Wesley Matthews (back soreness) missed the Bucks’ game last night in Brooklyn.

No team has troubled the Magic more in recent history than the Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a case to get a third MVP award of his career. The Greek Freak this season is averaging 31.3 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He is also shooting a field goal percentage 53.9.
To have any chance in the match Orlando will need another huge night from Paolo Banchero. A game leading 29 points in the victory over the Pelicans saw him net 8 of those in the final minutes.
Paolo Banchero continues to lead the Magic scorers with 19.9 points per game, followed by Franz Wagner (18.8), Wendell Carter Jr (15) and Markelle Fultz (13.2).
Milwaukee use the long ball a lot, shooting and making the 4th most in the league per game. They are the top rated defensive and total rebounding team. They also foul the least per game of any team.
Milwaukee are susceptible to turnovers, so defensive pressure could see mistakes made and allow Orlando much needed extra possessions. Jalen Suggs missed the only meeting this season and could be a factor in any Magic success.
The Bucks allow teams to shoot inside the arc. They give up the 29th most two-point-shots but guard the three very effectively.
Neither Wendell Carter Jr nor Brook Lopez played when the teams met in December. That could prove to be an interesting and hard fought contest at the centre position.

The head-to-head record in the 122 regular season games played sees the Bucks leading 69-53.
In regular season games the Bucks have won the last 12 straight. If you include the 2020 Playoff series Milwaukee have won 16 of the last 17 games played against Orlando! Go back further (from 2016-17 season) and it is 23 of the last 27 meetings.
The teams have only met once this season, in Orlando. The Bucks won 109-102 in December on the back of a 34 point, 13 rebound Giannis double-double. Jrue Holiday dished out 10 assists, with 17 points. Franz Wagner led the Magic with 25 points, whilst Banchero dropped 20 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists.
In playoffs the Bucks and Magic have met twice. In 2001 the Bucks won 3-1. 2020 saw Milwaukee again win, taking the series with a gentleman’s sweep 4-1.