In return for Vegas, the Surging Bucks have their sights set on the NBA Cup

In return for Vegas, the Surging Bucks have their sights set on the NBA Cup

MILWAUKEE – The Bucks are headed to Las Vegas for the second straight year after defeating the Orlando Magic 114-109 on Tuesday night to advance to the NBA Cup semifinals.

The Bucks will be the only team returning to Las Vegas, where they lost in the semifinals of the regular-season tournament last December. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said the team still has some “unfinished business” from last season.

“Losing is not a good feeling,” Antetokounmpo said after Tuesday’s game. “But we definitely learned from it.”

Jalen Suggs led an undermanned Magic team without stars Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner to almost a surprise. Suggs scored 32 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, but missed a potential 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.

Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and Damian Lillard scored nine of his 28 points in the final minute.

Bucks forward Bobby Portis said returning to Las Vegas this season is even more special considering the team started the season with a 2-8 record before going undefeated in NBA Cup group play and a defended a narrow win against the Magic.

“There were a lot of expectations for our team last year,” Portis said after scoring 22 points on 9 of 11 shooting off the bench Tuesday night. “It’s special in that respect because we started where we are.”

Milwaukee plays on Saturday against the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks.

Since their slow start, the Bucks have rebounded to a 13-11 record and coach Doc Rivers said the players have used the NBA Cup as a goal to get out of the early season doldrums.

“You set a goal and try to achieve it, right?” Rivers said. “Our goal is not just to get to Vegas, we want to win this thing.”

Still, the Bucks players took a moment to reflect on how far they’ve come in the last few weeks. Milwaukee has won nine of its last 11 games.

“We just stayed in touch,” Lillard said. “We kept fighting – and that’s a difficult thing when you’re struggling and expecting to win and people are talking about your team. It takes a connected group to get back on our feet, get out of this situation and win where we have arrived.

When the Bucks advanced to Las Vegas last season, they were 15-6 but lost to Indiana in a game that exposed their defensive weaknesses. The record was better then, but when Portis compared the feeling to this season, he said he liked the direction the team was heading.

“We’re only two games over (.500), but I like the makeup of our team right now,” Portis said. “I like the swag and confidence that everyone plays with. I like the camaraderie, how it gets better and better every game. And I like Vegas.”

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