The Bucks head to Orlando on Friday night carrying an eight-game losing streak into an NBA Cup matchup that already has a little extra weight attached to it. Milwaukee dropped its first Cup game last week, falling 121-107 to the Raptors, and now gets another crack at a group-stage win against a Magic team trying to sort itself out early.
To get a better read on Orlando before tipoff, we asked Magic On SI’s Jeremy Brener five questions about the matchup, and the answers pointed to a team still piecing things together around injuries, opportunity and a few key role players.
Brener said Sean Sweeney has had a tough start in his first run as the Magic’s coach, with several rotation pieces sidelined. Even so, he said Sweeney has kept his composure while the roster has been in flux.
“The team is slowly figuring out its identity with him as the coach, and he isn’t getting too high or too low after any particular game, regardless of the result. I think that’s important for this team to not panic after a slow start, especially considering how long the season is and where they plan on setting their goals for the year.”
On offense, Franz Wagner has carried a heavy load with Paolo Banchero out, but Brener pointed to Anthony Black as the player who has to help keep the attack moving. He called Black “the key to unlocking a new level for Orlando,” noting that the team has been in the playoffs every year he’s been in the league and tends to play better when he’s producing. The numbers back that up: Black is averaging 20.8 points per game in the three wins he has been on the floor for, compared with 14.8 points per game in the losses when he has been available.
Brener also highlighted the bench, naming Jamal Cain and Tristan da Silva as useful pieces who could matter again if they’re able to go. Both were on the injury report for Orlando’s last game against the Utah Jazz. Da Silva has been sharp from deep this season, hitting 40 percent of his three-pointers, while Cain’s double-double against the Golden State Warriors earned him a start in the next game against the Sacramento Kings.
There was also a trade-season angle, with Brener identifying AJ Green as “probably the most intriguing player on the Bucks as a potential trade target.” Still, he said Orlando is unlikely to make any moves until restrictions open up later.
The Magic would prefer to buy rather than sell, though that could change if the losses keep stacking up. For now, Brener said the injuries make it hard to judge the roster fully, and that the team wants a healthier stretch before deciding which direction to take.
As for Friday’s game itself, Brener sees Orlando taking advantage of Milwaukee’s skid. He picked the Magic to get their first home win of the season, riding the momentum from back-to-back victories over the Kings and Jazz and aiming to move to 2-0 in NBA Cup group play.
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Sean Sweeney also said forwards Tristan da Silva and Jamal Cain were on the court for shootaround and are questionable as well, giving Orlando a few moving parts to monitor before tipoff. For a team trying to manage its rotation and keep pace in a tournament setting, the injury report could shape how the night unfolds almost as much as the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]