The Milwaukee Bucks will look to go 2-0 straight up this season against the rebuilding Orlando Magic. Will the Bucks dominate Orlando again? Or will the Magic weave an upset win here? Check out our preview of this game below.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo still sidelined with a left knee issue, the Bucks fell prey to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, 116-101, on the road. Antetokounmpo has missed the last three Bucks games and the count could stretch to four if he misses Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. His availability for that game could provide an insight as to whether he would suit up on Sunday versus the Magic. If Antetokounmpo can’t go, that would mean Bobby Portis will likely get a start again, Portis has been playing well in lieu of Antetokounmpo. The former Arkansas Razorbacks star has averaged 17.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in the last three games while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor. The Bucks beat Orlando on the road back in January, 121-99.
The Bucks are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games on the road against Orlando.
Orlando has lost all its last three games and will look to get back in the win column when the Magic face the Indiana Pacers at home this Friday before taking on the Bucks. Despite the loss, the Magic must have liked what they saw from Cole Anthony, who returned to action from injury and scored 13 points to go with 7 assists in 26 minutes off the bench. Anthony could find his way into the starting unit sooner than later for the Magic, who will present a new-look lineup for the Bucks. The last time these two teams met, the Magic still had Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, and Aaron Gordon, who are now with different teams. The Magic have that element of surprise going for them against Milwaukee. Mo Bamba, Chuma Okeke, and Wendell Carter Jr. form the core of this young Magic team that is averaging 104.5 points per game, as of this writing
