And three for Milwaukee! The Bucks have once again done the job to take down Orlando. The Floridians paid for their irregularity by chaining strong and weak times until “money time”, when the Middleton-Antetokounmpo pair decided the fate of the match by scoring key baskets.
He didn’t miss much in Orlando to beat up the suspense a little more, but on arrival, it was 3-1 and therefore a next game to approach with the specter of elimination.
Both teams start smoothly in the first act. The Magic began to fall behind again as soon as Mike Budenholzer opened his bench. At 3-pointers, Marvin Williams and Ersan Ilyasova hit the mark while Pat Connaughton entered with an easy throw-in (13-20). The first gap in favor of the Bucks has the merit of reboosting Orlando who then passes an 11-2 between the end of the first act and the beginning of the second, with six points from Terrence Ross and another long shot signed DJ Augstin (24- 22).
Milwaukee also responds with two shots behind the arc of Brook Lopez and George Hill, but the Floridians are on the pace, like the distant missiles of Gary Clark, James Ennis III and Nikola Vucevic which allow Steve Clifford’s men to do tied game (37-37).
Magic keeps the flame alive
Evan Fournier also gets his first 3-point basket alongside Nikola Vucevic who scores two more. However, insufficient to cast doubt on the Bucks, who can count on Wes Matthews to slam two bombs in turn including one at 7 tenths of the break, giving Milwaukee six lengths at rest (52-58).
The scenario is repeated after returning from the locker room. Milwaukee takes the lead and goes to +9 after a lay-up from Giannis Antetokounmpo (54-63), but Orlando responds with a 12-2 punctuated by missiles from Gary Clark, Evan Fournier and Markelle Fultz, open to the wing, who this time manages to get his own in front (65-66).
James Ennis III, Khem Birch, DJ Augustin and Terrence Ross tear up to stay in the game as the fourth quarter approaches. And even if the Floridians cash a 3-point from the “Greek Freak” at the very end of the period, everything remains playable 12 minutes from the end (81-84).
Khris Middleton wakes up, Giannis Antetokounmpo drives the point home
The Florida dream suddenly ends when the Bucks attack the last act with a 15-2 flash in which Khris Middleton, discreet until then in the series, in turn begins to shine by scoring important baskets (83-102). Evan Fournier then launches the run of the last chance with a 3-point, followed by Nikola Vucevic, before bringing out a perfect ball for Terrence Ross, open behind the arc to conclude a 9-0 (94-102).
Nikola Vucevic then gives hope to the entire Magic camp by planting two 3-point baskets in a row (100-107) and forcing Mike Budenholzer to stop the game at the start of the money-time. Giannis Antetokounmpo then takes over from Khris Middleton by winning twice in the painting and forces the Magic, also sanctioned with an unforgivable oversight on Kyle Korver at 3-points, to surrender two minutes from the end ( 102-114).
Surprised in the first game, the Bucks are now 3-1 with the possibility of closing the series on Wednesday.
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