Bucks Gameday
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MILWAUKEE (AP) Brandon Knight scored 24 points and sparked Milwaukee's rousing rally from an 18-point deficit with a dunk to lead the Bucks to a 105-98 win Monday night over the Orlando Magic.
Knight confounded Orlando with a quick first step and threw down a dunk for a 74-71 lead with 10:57 left after Ramon Sessions went high for an outlet pass in the lane and patted the ball back to his driving backcourt mate.
The lead swelled to 95-81 with 2:49 left before Orlando mounted its own late charge to get within three off a 3 from Jameer Nelson with 35 seconds left.
But the Bucks hit their foul shots late and Orlando was hurt after Nikola Vucevic was whistled for an offensive foul with 22 seconds left.
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NOTES
With the win tonight the Bucks earned a split in the season series with Orlando, as the home team won all four matchups. It’s the first time the teams have split the series since 2005-06, and just the fifth split in their 25 seasons of head-to-head play.
After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second quarter tonight, the Bucks rallied back to win from 10+ points down for the fifth time this season. The comeback is the second-largest for Milwaukee, trailing only the 22-point deficit the Bucks erased back on Nov. 1 at Boston.
Milwaukee set a season low for fouls tonight with nine (previously 15, four times). Nine personal fouls also ties the NBA’s single-game low this season, set by Washington at Milwaukee on Nov. 27.
Orlando’s 5-for-8 showing from the free throw line set opponent season lows for the Bucks in both makes and attempts (previously 9 FTM vs. ORL on 2/18 and 13 FTA vs. HOU on 2/8).
With 21 free throws made tonight, the Bucks are now averaging 20.5 made free throws over their last 11 games, surpassing their season average of 15.1 up to that point.
Brandon Knight (24 points) extended his career-best streak to 18 consecutive games in double figures. Tonight is his 22nd game this season with 20+ points.
Knight opened the fourth quarter by outscoring the Magic 9-0 over the first 1:30 of the frame to give Milwaukee its first lead since 10-9 in the first quarter. The Bucks never trailed from that point on.
Khris Middleton hit five 3-pointers en route to his total of 21 points – his 10th 20-point game this season – tying his career high for most 3-pointers made in a game (three times).
Orlando recorded 10 assists on 11 first-quarter field goals tonight. It’s the sixth time this season the Magic have had a 10-assist quarter.
Nikola Vucevic (12 points/12 rebounds) recorded his fifth double-double in nine career games against Milwaukee. Vucevic now owns career averages of 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds against the Bucks.
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