Giannis Sidelined with Calf Injury as Bucks Face Red-Hot Magic in Orlando
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without their superstar tonight as Giannis Antetokounmpo sits out due to a calf injury. That’s a major blow for a team already navigating a rocky stretch of the season-and it couldn’t come at a tougher time. The Bucks are heading into Orlando to face a surging Magic squad that’s coming off a gritty comeback win and playing with real confidence on their home floor.
Injury Report: Who’s In, Who’s Out
The Bucks will also be missing Taurean Prince, who’s dealing with a neck issue, and Alex Antetokounmpo, who remains with the G League. That leaves Milwaukee extremely thin, especially in the frontcourt, and puts even more pressure on their younger rotation players to step up.
Orlando, meanwhile, is relatively healthy, with only Colin Castelton listed as out due to G League assignment. That continuity could be a big factor tonight.
Game Details
- Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Kia Center, Orlando
- TV: Fan Duel Sports
- Betting Line: Magic -9
Magic Riding Momentum After Statement Win
Orlando is coming off one of its more impressive wins of the season-a 120-117 victory over the Utah Jazz in front of a packed house at the Kia Center. The Magic erased a 17-point deficit, showing poise and resilience that’s becoming a hallmark of this young group.
Paolo Banchero continued to look like the real deal, flirting with a triple-double: 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Desmond Bane added 22 points, including the go-ahead free throw with just under 30 seconds left. Rookie guard Anthony Black chipped in 21, and Moritz Wagner gave them a spark off the bench with 13 points and eight boards.
Despite being outrebounded 55-38 and getting outscored in the paint 58-40, the Magic forced 24 turnovers and turned those into 39 points-a massive swing stat that helped them steal the game.
Projected Starters
Magic
- G Anthony Black
- G Jalen Suggs
- C Wendell Carter Jr.
- F Desmond Bane
- F Paolo Banchero
Bucks
- F AJ Green
- F Jericho Sims
- C Myles Turner
- G Kevin Porter Jr.
- G Ryan Rollins
With Giannis out, the Bucks’ starting five is going to look very different. Myles Turner will likely be asked to do a lot more on both ends, and Kevin Porter Jr. will need to shoulder a heavier offensive load. This is a chance for some of Milwaukee’s lesser-known names to make an impact-but against an Orlando team that’s clicking, that’s a tall order.
What They’re Saying
Magic forward Desmond Bane had high praise for Moritz Wagner’s return to the rotation, highlighting the energy and leadership he brings:
“Oh, he's humongous. He told us before the previous game like we got to have our juice and our energy and you see he's been bringing it for sure... we have to play with that emotion and that care and that willingness to be unselfish and defend for a full 48 minutes.”
Head coach Jamahl Mosley echoed that sentiment, pointing to the team’s defensive turnaround in the second half against Utah:
“Yeah, second half was much better than the first...
That wasn't who we are and who we needed to be. But in that second half being able to sit down and guard a little bit better.”
What to Watch
With Giannis out, the Bucks will need to find offense from unexpected places. Can AJ Green or Ryan Rollins provide a scoring punch?
Will Myles Turner assert himself as a go-to option? And defensively, how do they plan to contain Banchero and Bane, who are quickly becoming one of the East’s more dynamic forward tandems?
Orlando, on the other hand, will look to keep the ball moving, force turnovers, and ride the energy of their home crowd. If they can replicate the defensive intensity they showed down the stretch against Utah, they’ll be in a strong position to take care of business.
The Magic are favored by nine for a reason-but don’t count out a Bucks team that’s still got pride and plenty of talent. This one could come down to who sets the tone early and controls the tempo throughout.