Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the Milwaukee Bucks past the Orlando Magic 109-106 on Friday night, scoring 41 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in a thriller that came down to the final seconds. Damian Lillard added 29 points, including the game-clinching free throws with 9.3 seconds left.
The night also marked the long-awaited return of Paolo Banchero, who had been sidelined since October 30 with a torn oblique. The Magic’s young star looked sharp in his first game back, scoring 34 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc while adding seven rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes. Despite his strong performance, the Magic couldn’t overcome Milwaukee’s efficiency.
Cole Anthony chipped in 18 points and seven rebounds, while rookie Tristan da Silva posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. The Magic, already missing Jalen Suggs and brothers Franz and Mo Wagner, showed resilience but struggled to close against a top-tier opponent.
Bobby Portis gave Milwaukee a boost off the bench with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Bucks’ hot shooting proved to be the difference, hitting 52% from the field to offset nine missed free throws — seven of them from Antetokounmpo.
The pivotal moment came late in the game when Lillard was fouled by rookie Anthony Black while catching an inbounds pass. Orlando challenged the call, but the officials upheld the foul, sealing the Bucks’ third straight win.
Milwaukee now heads to New York on Sunday, while Orlando looks to bounce back at home against Philadelphia.
