MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 01: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a call during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Fiserv Forum on March 01, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges an …
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks hit a season-high 26 3-pointers in a 139-117 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to 16 games.
Milwaukee’s streak is the longest in the NBA since the Phoenix Suns won 18 in a row early last season. The Bucks’ run is their longest since winning 18 straight in the 2019-20 season.
The Bucks’ franchise record for consecutive wins came in their 1970-71 championship season, when they claimed 20 straight.
Milwaukee hasn’t lost since Jan. 21, when they fell 114-102 at Cleveland. The Bucks haven’t lost a game in which Antetokounmpo played since Jan. 6 against Charlotte.
Milwaukee also has won its last 13 matchups with the Magic.
The Magic had snapped the Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak on Jan. 23 and ended the Philadelphia 76ers’ seven-game streak on Jan. 30, but they couldn’t stop the Bucks.
Milwaukee shot 26 of 56 from 3-point range, while Orlando went just 9 of 33.
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 had seven rebounds and six assists.
Jrue Holiday had 23 points and nine assists for the Bucks. Brook Lopez scored 18 and Joe Ingles 16.
Orlando’s Cole Anthony scored a season-high 28 points. Markelle Fultz added 21, Wendell Carter Jr. 19 and Franz Wagner 18. Carter also had 10 rebounds.
TIP-INS
Magic: Jonathan Isaac (strained right hamstring/adductor) missed a third straight game. ... Orlando went 6 of 12 on 3-point attempts in the first half, but was 3 of 21 from beyond the arc the rest of the game. ... Paolo Banchero shot just 4 of 13 overall. Banchero finished with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Bucks: The Bucks requested waivers on Sandro Mamukelashvili before the game. The 6-foot-10 forward had appeared in a combined 65 games for the Bucks over the last two seasons after they selected him out of Seton Hall in the second round of the 2021 draft. ... The Bucks rested Khris Middleton on the second night of a back to- ack as they monitor the right knee that caused him to miss 19 straight games earlier this season. .... Wesley Matthews missed a fourth straight game with a strained right calf.
UP NEXT
Magic: At Charlotte on Friday to close a three-game trip. The Magic are 2-1 against the Hornets this season.
Bucks: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The Bucks have split two matchups this season, both at Philadelphia. The Bucks won 90-88 on Oct. 20 and lost 110-102 on Nov. 18.