Milwaukee, March 2 (US): Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to make sure the Milwaukee Bucks don’t rely too much on the 3-point shot.
But in one night, the Bucks showed just how dangerous they can be from long range as they stretched the longest winning streak in the NBA this season, the Associated Press reports.
Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and the NBA-leading Bucks hit a season-high 26 three-pointers in a 139-117 win over the Orlando Magic Wednesday night for their 16th straight victory.
“It’s part of our game, but it’s not our only game,” Antetokounmo said. “We can’t fall in love and count on our 3-point shot. When you come in, it’s a bonus. It’s a plus.”
He went early and often against Orlando.
Bucks went 26 of 56 from 3-point range. Grayson Allen, AJ Green, Joe Ingles, and Brook Lopez each sank four three-pointers. Antetokounmpo and Pat Connaughton added three each.
“I didn’t realize we hit that many three-pointers,” said Lopez, who scored 18 points and shot 4-of-5 from outside the arc. “I knew we hit a lot, but that’s a lot of 3s.”
Milwaukee’s winning streak is the longest in the NBA since the Phoenix Suns went 18 straight early last season. The Bucks’ streak is their longest since they won 18 in a row in the 2019-20 season.
The Bucks’ franchise record for consecutive wins came in the 1970-71 championship season, when they scored 20 straight wins.
“This is a team that’s rolling right now,” Magic coach Jamaal Moseley said. “They are playing at a high level.”
Milwaukee hasn’t lost since January 21, when it fell 114-102 in Cleveland. The Bucks haven’t lost a game in which Antetokounmpo has played since January 6 against Charlotte.
The Bucks have also won their last 13 games with the Magic.
Orlando snapped the Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak on January 23 and ended the Philadelphia 76ers’ seven-game winning streak on January 30, but the magic couldn’t stop the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo shot 10-of-14 overall, 3-of-4 from 3-point range and 8-of-10 from the line. The two-time MVP also grabbed seven rebounds and six assists.
Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and nine assists for the Bucks. Brook Lopez scored 18 and Engels scored 16.
“We talked a lot about our depth and the quality of our shot,” Bucks coach Mike Bodenholzer said. “I felt like a lot of them were caught in a hot streak tonight.”
Orlando’s Cole Anthony scored a season-high 28 points. Markel Foltz added 21, Wendell Carter Jr. 19 and Franz Wagner 18. Carter also scored 10 rebounds.
Tip-ins
Magic: Jonathan Isaacs (strained right hamstring/adductor muscle) missed the third straight game. … Orlando went 6 of 12 on 3 attempts in the first half, but was 3 of 21 from outside the arc the rest of the game. … Paolo Panchero shot only 4 out of 13. Panchero finished with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Bucks: The Bucks called Sandro Mamukelashvili on waivers before the game. The 6-foot-10 forward has appeared in a total of 65 games for the Bucks over the past two seasons after being selected out of Seton Hall in the second round of the 2021 draft. … The Bucks rested Chris Middleton for the second night of the rematch as they tended to a right knee that hurt In losing 19 consecutive games earlier this season. ….
Wesley Matthews missed the fourth straight game with a strained right calf.
the next
Magic: In Charlotte on Friday to close out a three-game drive. The Magic are 2-1 against the Hornets this season.
Bucks: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The Bucks split two games this season, both in Philadelphia. The Bucks won 90-88 on October 20 and lost 110-102 on November 18.
Rial