Orlando Magic vs Milwaukee Bucks – NBA Preview – Jan 15, 2025
The Orlando Magic face off against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET. The Magic sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 23-18 record, while the Bucks are right behind them in fifth place at 21-17. This will be the third meeting between these teams this season, with Milwaukee winning the first two matchups, including a 109-106 victory last week in Orlando.
Milwaukee is playing the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Sacramento Kings 130-115 on Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his 50th career triple-double in the win. Meanwhile, Orlando is coming off a 104-99 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, a game where Paolo Banchero led the way in just his second game back from injury.
Orlando Magic Preview – Rested and Ready for Revenge
Orlando has had time to recover after their close loss to Milwaukee last Friday and a bounce-back win against Philadelphia. Paolo Banchero, playing limited minutes since his return from injury, has been impactful, scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds against the 76ers. Cole Anthony also shined with 27 points in the same game.
Injury concerns remain for the Magic. Franz Wagner, Gary Harris, and Jalen Suggs are among key players who are out, while Goga Bitadze and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are questionable. Despite the absences, Orlando continues to rely on their defensive grit, holding opponents to 104.8 points per game, which ranks among the best in the league.
Orlando’s offense has been inconsistent, shooting just 44.5% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range, both league-worst marks. To win, they will need another strong defensive effort and more production from Banchero and Anthony.
Milwaukee Bucks Preview – Building Momentum at Home
Milwaukee enters the game on a high note after their convincing win over Sacramento. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the team with 31.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and is coming off a triple-double performance. Damian Lillard continues to be a reliable secondary option, adding 24 points and seven assists in Tuesday’s game.
The Bucks’ defense has been strong, allowing just 110.8 points per game, good for 13th in the league. However, their injury report could play a factor in this matchup, with Khris Middleton and Gary Trent Jr. both day-to-day. Milwaukee has also struggled with consistency this season, as evidenced by their 8-10 home record against the spread.
In their two prior meetings against Orlando this season, Antetokounmpo averaged 41 points and 14 rebounds, dominating the Magic’s interior defense. If the Bucks can continue to get strong contributions from their supporting cast, they should have the edge in this game.
Betting Prediction
Milwaukee is favored by 5.5 points, with the total set at 211.5. The Bucks’ recent form and home-court advantage make them the likely winners, but Orlando’s defense and Banchero’s return add some unpredictability. Expect a competitive game, with Milwaukee pulling away late.
Projected final score: Milwaukee 112, Orlando 104. Milwaukee covers the spread, and the total goes over 211.5.
Pick: Milwaukee -5.5, Over 211.5