Pro Sports

Antetokounmpo dunks 8 times, Bucks beat Magic in Kidd return

Posted January 26, 2016 6:00 am

By JOE DiGIOVANNI

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo jumps above the rim for a dunk over Orlando Magics' defenders during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Giannis Antetokounmpo dunked eight times and scored 25 points as the Milwaukee Bucks, with coach Jason Kidd back on the bench, sent the Orlando Magic to their seventh straight loss, 107-100 Tuesday night.

Kidd missed 17 games after having surgery on his right hip Dec. 21. In his return, he spent a lot of time walking along the sideline as Milwaukee rallied from a 16-point deficit.

Jerryd Bayless had a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:20, including a baseline shot with 13 seconds to go that put Milwaukee ahead 103-99. Khris Middleton, who had 25 points, made a pair of free throws with 7 seconds left for a 105-100 lead.

The Bucks have won four of six. Orlando has lost 11 of 12.

The Magic allowed the Bucks to score 62 points in the paint, one night after giving up 70 inside during an 108-102 overtime loss at Memphis.

Orlando coach Scott Skiles said before this game he was stressing his team play tough defense near the basket, but Antetokounmpo and big center Greg Monroe, who had 21 points, were too strong for the Magic.

Victor Oladipo scored 18 points and Nikola Vucevic added 16 for the Magic.

The Bucks had given up 32 3-pointers in losing their previous two games, and Skiles said his team would try to get open looks. The strategy worked, with the Magic making 13 of 24 3-pointers.

Oladipo's 3-pointer gave the Magic their biggest lead, 48-32, with 5:35 left in the second quarter. Milwaukee ended the half on a 21-8 run to cut the lead to 56-53 at halftime on Middleton's 3-pointer with 16 seconds to go.

Antetokounmpo scored on a running dunk with 6:39 left in the second quarter, keying a run of 10 consecutive made shots to help the Bucks get back into the game.

TIP-INS

Magic: It was Skiles' first game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center since coaching the Bucks from 2008-2013. He went 162-182 with the Bucks and said before the game he considered it a failure because he didn't win enough games.

Bucks: Assistant coach Joe Prunty served as interim head coach in Kidd's absence. The team went 8-9 under Prunty's leadership. . Middleton has scored at least 20 points in seven consecutive games.

UP NEXT

Magic: Visit Boston on Friday.

Bucks: Visit Memphis on Thursday.

Milwaukee Bucks' head coach Jason Kidd watches his team play against the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Milwaukee. Kidd is back on the court after hip surgery. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) The Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo has the ball stolen by Orlando Magics' Shabazz Napier during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) The Associated Press

Orlando Magics' Evan Fournier shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks' during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) The Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks' Jerryd Bayless defends against the Orlando Magics' Victor Oladiop during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) The Associated Press

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