Franz Wagner scored 14 points in 17 minutes in his return to action for Orlando and was a catalyst in a game-changing third-quarter run as the Magic downed the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 118-99 on Monday.
Anthony Black amassed 26 points for Orlando on 8-of-13 shooting. Desmond Bane added 25 for the Magic, who have now won three in a row, matching their best runs of the season.
Milwaukee’s modest three-game winning streak — its longest of the season — was snapped. The Bucks, still without star Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), got a game-high 28 points from Kevin Porter Jr. He added seven assists, while AJ Green knocked down 4 of 8 from long range and finished with 15 points.
The two teams meet again in Orlando on Wednesday.
After missing the last nine games with an ankle injury, Franz Wagner entered the game with 4:11 left in the first quarter, but he didn’t assert himself until late in the third. Orlando led 73-70 before Moritz Wagner knocked down a 3-pointer for the Magic after receiving a pass from Franz Wagner. Jase Richardson hit a trey for Orlando on its next possession to make it a nine-point lead.
After a fadeaway jumper by Porter, Franz Wagner fed his brother again for a long 3-pointer to make it 82-72, and then Franz scored on a drive to the basket and then sank a long three with 19 seconds left in the quarter to make it 87-72. Milwaukee would never get closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Orlando outscored Milwaukee 36-20 in the third period.
Neither team looked sharp in the first quarter. Milwaukee committed five turnovers in the first five minutes, and the score was tied at 13 with 3:30 left in the first.
Orlando went on a spurt at the end of the first with Franz Wagner scoring on a nifty reverse lay-up, and his brother following with a dunk on a pick-and-roll. A three at the buzzer by Porter made it 27-22 Orlando after one.
The Bucks played cleaner and better second quarter. Bobby Portis Jr. made back-to-back buckets to knot the score at 31 with nine minutes to go. After Orlando creeped back ahead 43-36, Milwaukee went on a 7-0 run started by a three by Green. A driving layup by Jericho Sims gave the Bucks a 47-46 lead, and they hung on to a 54-51 edge at halftime.
Cam Thomas made his Bucks debut after being released by the Brooklyn Nets, and he scored four points in 13 minutes.
–Field Level Media
