The Orlando Magic’s run of good fortune hit a speed bump just before the NBA All-Star break, as they fell 116-108 to the Milwaukee Bucks inside the Kia Center on February 11, 2026. The defeat snapped a three-game winning streak and left the Magic with a bittersweet taste heading into the week-long pause. Despite the setback, there’s still plenty for Orlando fans to be optimistic about as the team eyes a playoff push in the season’s final months.
Coming into the contest, momentum was on the Magic’s side. Desmond Bane, who’s quickly become a vocal leader in the locker room, had spoken earlier in the week about the importance of carrying good vibes into the break. “Everything is about momentum,” Bane said after shootaround. “You want to generate as much good momentum as you can. That’s not everything, but it’s real. We’re human. We’ve got a great opportunity going home feeling good about what we’ve done going into the break.”
The Magic’s recent surge had been built on a renewed commitment to defense and a healthy roster—finally. After months of struggling to string together wins and rediscover their defensive identity, Orlando had held three straight opponents (the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, and Milwaukee Bucks) to less than 105 points per 100 possessions. They forced turnovers at a blistering 20.3 percent rate over those games and led the league by scoring 30.7 points per contest off those takeaways. Franz Wagner’s return from a high ankle sprain provided a much-needed boost, and for the first time in a long while, the Magic felt whole again.
But as Jalen Suggs warned at a fan event in Ocoee, the final game before the break would be the toughest. Facing Milwaukee for the second time in three days after a 19-point win on Monday, Orlando found itself in a back-and-forth battle featuring eight lead changes. The Bucks, determined not to drop two straight to the Magic, made crucial adjustments—most notably going big in the frontcourt—and set a physical tone early.
Desmond Bane came out firing, knocking down his first five three-pointers and scoring nine of the team’s first 14 points. His five first-quarter threes tied a franchise record for most made in a single quarter, a feat last accomplished by Mo Bamba in 2022. By halftime, Bane had 20 points, but foul trouble and defensive pressure slowed him in the third quarter. He finished with a game-high 31 points, joining an elite club as the 11th player in franchise history to make eight or more threes in a game. “Having a full lineup, there’s so many weapons out there, so many guys that can touch the paint. … It really opens up a lot of opportunities to get catch-and-shoot shots,” Bane explained after the game. “As the season goes on we’re just continuing to find ways to help each other and play to each other’s strengths.”
Jalen Suggs delivered another strong outing, posting a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. He also continued his streak of defensive excellence, recording at least one steal for the seventh straight game and one block for the fourth consecutive contest. Anthony Black, still holding a spot in the starting lineup even with Wagner’s return, chipped in 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Paolo Banchero, playing with his right index finger wrapped after jamming it in the previous game, contributed 17 points, including eight in a crucial third-quarter stretch.
Franz Wagner, still under a minutes restriction and coming off the bench for just the second time in his career, struggled to find his rhythm. He managed only five points on 1-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes. His brother, Moe Wagner, was more effective off the bench, tallying 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists in just 17 minutes of action. The Magic’s reserves, however, were thoroughly outplayed by Milwaukee’s bench, which outscored Orlando’s 55-25.
The Bucks’ recent acquisitions made a massive impact. Cam Thomas, signed less than a week prior after being cut by the Brooklyn Nets, erupted for 34 points—including 15 in the third quarter and four made threes. Ousmane Dieng, acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, hit five of his eight three-point attempts and finished with 17 points. Kevin Porter Jr. provided a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists, while Jericho Sims added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma rounded out Milwaukee’s double-figure scorers with 15 points. The Bucks were flawless at the free-throw line, converting all 24 of their attempts, a critical factor in the tightly contested affair.
Despite Milwaukee’s 16 turnovers (which led to 13 Orlando points), the Magic couldn’t capitalize enough in the closing moments. With just 1:12 remaining, Suggs sank two free throws to bring Orlando within two, 110-108. But Myles Turner responded with his only three-pointer of the night to stretch the Bucks’ lead. After Wendell Carter Jr. missed a chance to answer, Cam Thomas delivered the dagger—a deep three that put Milwaukee up by eight with only 20.6 seconds left. That was all she wrote for Orlando’s comeback hopes.
Coach Jamahl Mosley credited the Bucks’ adjustments and physicality. “You’ve got to give Milwaukee a ton of credit for the way they came out and played,” Mosley said postgame. “I think they set the tone physically in a lot of ways for the game. It’s hard to beat a team twice, especially when they make that type of adjustment. They went big. We’ve got to continue to be better, grow from this and learn from this.” Suggs echoed his coach’s sentiments, noting, “There was a couple of defensive lapses that in the moment … there may not be a ton but they kind of accumulate. Especially in the fourth quarter, you want to get rid of those.”
First-round rookie Jase Richardson saw seven minutes of action, hitting his lone three-point attempt late in the third quarter. Second-round pick Noah Penda also got some run, entering five minutes into the second quarter but playing just four minutes overall.
The Magic now head into the All-Star break with a 28-25 record, sitting just 1.5 games behind the No. 6 seed and five games from homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. While the loss stings, the team is getting healthy at the right time and remains confident in its ability to make noise down the stretch. The break offers a chance to reset, regroup, and return with renewed energy for the final push.
Orlando resumes play on February 19, 2026, with a four-game West Coast road trip beginning against the Sacramento Kings. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET at the Golden 1 Center, with coverage available on FanDuel Sports Network and NBA League Pass. The closing months of the season promise plenty of intrigue as the Magic look to turn recent lessons into playoff success.