The Bucks have taken a 2-1 series lead after a dominant 121-107 win over the Magic in Game 3 Saturday. After a stunning loss in Game 1, the Easts top-seeded group came out in this video game to prove that it is by far the exceptional team compared to the Magic. On offense, Khris Middleton lastly got it choosing the Bucks as the All-Star guard finished the afternoon with 17 points, 8 rebounds and six assists, while connecting on over 40 percent of his threes. Giannis Antetokounmpo when again turned in an MVP efficiency to the tune of 35 points, 11 rebounds and 7 helps. On defense, Milwaukee swarmed all over Orlando, never ever letting the Magic get too comfortable to get shots up..
Orlando attempted to make a run in the 4th quarter, cutting what was a 34-point lead at one point to 15, but the strength from Giannis, in addition to the concentrated defense from the Bucks, never allowed them to put any genuine pressure on Milwaukee. Nikola Vucevic blazed a trail again for the Magic, kipping down a 20-point performance that was less effective than his previous 2 games. The Bucks appear like the dominant force theyve been throughout the regular season, and are now simply two video games away from advancing to the next round. Game 4 of this series will occur on Monday at 1:30 p.m. ET. Here are 3 takeaways from the Bucks win.
1. Khris Middleton lastly got here.
In the very first 2 video games of this series, Middleton was essentially nonexistent for the Bucks on offense, combining for simply 16 points, while shooting 25 percent from the field and 20 percent from deep. It was incredibly out of character from what we d concern anticipate from Middleton throughout the regular season, as he averaged 21 points and shot well over 40 percent from the field and beyond the arc..
The All-Star forward was bound to snap out of his shooting depression at some point, and in Game 3 the lid finally came off the rim for him as he put up an effective 17 points on 46.7 percent from the field and shot 3 of 6 from deep. While it was never time to sound the alarm on Middletons lack of scoring through the very first 2 games of this series, it is encouraging to know that hes been able to get things going early in the postseason now. Milwaukee is an extremely deep group.
2. The Bucks finally looked like the Bucks … for 3 quarters.
The Bucks werent letting the Magic get any easy looks, and were pressuring other guys on the team not named Nikola Vucevic to beat them. Even when Milwaukee was up by 30 points, the ruling MVP was scrapping on the floor for loose balls and shrieking after every fastbreak dunk.
The game was never ever truly close, Milwaukee still enabled Orlando to end up the video game shooting nearly 50 percent from deep and 44 percent from the field. The beginning of this video game lined up with the defensively stout team Milwaukee has actually been throughout this season, but the tail end of this game should still be used as an example for the Bucks that they still have some tightening up to do prior to they face harder opponents deeper in the postseason.
3. Credit to the Magic for resisting in the fourth quarter.
Shots werent falling for anyone like they were in Game 1, and aggravation set in throughout the 2nd quarter when James Ennis and Marvin Williams got into it after the Bucks lead swelled to well over 20 points. At that point in the game it seemed like the Magic were just frustrated and defeated, but on the back of Augustins 10 points in the 4th quarter, Orlando made Milwaukee sweat a bit and cut the lead down to 12 points. It didnt get any closer than that, however after a disastrous 3 quarters for the Magic, at least Steve Clifford can take solace in understanding that his gamers showed some fight toward the end of the game.
After a stunning loss in Game 1, the Easts top-seeded group came out in this game to show that it is far and away the exceptional team compared to the Magic. The All-Star forward was bound to snap out of his shooting downturn at some point, and in Game 3 the cover finally came off the rim for him as he put up an efficient 17 points on 46.7 percent from the field and shot 3 of 6 from deep. The game was never truly close, Milwaukee still enabled Orlando to finish the video game shooting nearly 50 percent from deep and 44 percent from the field. The beginning of this game lined up with the defensively stout team Milwaukee has been throughout this season, but the tail end of this video game must still be used as an example for the Bucks that they still have some tightening up to do prior to they face harder challengers deeper in the postseason.
At that point in the video game it seemed like the Magic were just disappointed and beat, however on the back of Augustins 10 points in the 4th quarter, Orlando made Milwaukee sweat a bit and cut the lead down to 12 points.
