The Orlando Magic entered their final matchup before the NBA All-Star Break with high hopes and a three-game winning streak, ready to seize momentum for the season’s home stretch. But on February 11, 2026, inside a buzzing Kia Center, their aspirations ran into a determined Milwaukee Bucks squad. The Magic fought valiantly, but ultimately fell 116-108, snapping their win streak and sending them into the break with a bitter taste and plenty to ponder.
For Magic guard Desmond Bane, the pre-break game was more than just another contest—it was a chance to cement positive energy. “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.” That optimism was tested from the opening tip, as both teams traded blows in a game that saw eight lead changes and playoff-level intensity.
Coach Jamahl Mosley echoed Bane’s focus on process and consistency, which had eluded Orlando for much of the season. “I also believe if you’re playing the right way, you feel it,” Mosley said. “That’s more than momentum. That’s just knowing you are doing the right thing at the right time and playing the right basketball. That is part of the momentum. But that is part of your process is right, and you are doing the right things in this moment.” The Magic had shown flashes of that identity during their homestand, holding opponents to under 105 points per 100 possessions and leading the league in points off turnovers over the last three games.
But the Bucks arrived with adjustments and a vengeance, having lost to Orlando by 19 points just two nights earlier. Milwaukee’s physicality and bench depth proved decisive. Cam Thomas exploded for 34 points off the bench, including a remarkable 15 in the third quarter, while Ousmane Dieng added 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. The Bucks’ reserves outscored Orlando’s 55-25, a margin that ultimately tilted the contest.
Despite Milwaukee turning the ball over 16 times—yielding 13 points for the Magic—the Bucks made up for it with flawless free-throw shooting, going 24-for-24 at the line. Orlando, meanwhile, struggled to sustain their defensive edge late and couldn’t keep pace with Milwaukee’s relentless attack down the stretch.
Desmond Bane did his part to keep the Magic afloat, delivering a dazzling offensive performance. He started the night on fire, draining his first five three-pointers and scoring nine of Orlando’s first 14 points. Bane finished the first quarter with 15 points and tied a franchise record for most threes in a single quarter, a mark last reached by Mo Bamba in 2022. By halftime, Bane had 20 points, and though he was held scoreless in the third, he erupted for 11 more in the final frame, becoming just the 11th player in Magic history to hit 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 noted. “As the season goes on we’re just continuing to find ways to help each other and play to each other’s strengths.” Even after picking up his fourth and fifth fouls late, Bane pressed on, notching his seventh 30-plus point game of the season.
Jalen Suggs, who had called this game the toughest test of the homestand, chipped in 16 points and made a pair of crucial free throws to pull Orlando within two points with just over a minute left. But Milwaukee responded with a 6-0 run, punctuated by clutch threes from Myles Turner and Cam Thomas, sealing the Magic’s fate. Suggs, ever the competitor, reflected on the team’s defensive lapses: “I thought for the most part, the ball was popping. 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.” Suggs also continued his streak of defensive contributions, recording at least one steal for the seventh straight game and at least one block in four straight contests.
Elsewhere in the starting lineup, Anthony Black remained with the first unit despite the return of Franz Wagner from a high ankle sprain. Black contributed 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists, hitting three threes but also committing two turnovers. He did not see action in the fourth quarter. Paolo Banchero, playing with a wrapped right index finger, managed 17 points, including eight in the third quarter, though he shot just 2-for-6 from distance. Wendell Carter Jr. struggled offensively, finishing with just six points on 1-for-7 shooting but grabbed eight rebounds and provided interior presence.
Franz Wagner, still under a minutes restriction and coming off the bench for only the second time in his career, couldn’t find his rhythm this time. He shot 1-for-7 (1-for-5 from deep) and scored just five points in 21 minutes, a far cry from his usual impact. His older brother, Moe Wagner, provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 17 minutes, doing a bit of everything to keep Orlando in the hunt.
Rookie Jase Richardson made the most of his seven minutes, hitting his lone three-point attempt late in the third quarter. Second-round pick Noah Penda saw four minutes of action after entering early in the second quarter, gaining valuable experience in a high-stakes environment.
Despite the loss, the Magic’s recent defensive resurgence and the return of key players like Franz Wagner have given the squad reason for optimism. As Tristan da Silva put it, “It’s always a big thing. The confidence that you play with, the comfort level that you play with, everybody being on the same page. That all plays into the momentum piece. And just knowing what to do, how to operate out there on the court. Just gelling together as a team.” Mosley, too, tried to keep spirits high: “I think it’s great momentum heading into the All-Star Break. You have these guys leaving out of here on a high note. That means we’ve played well and done the right things at the right time. I think it is a great way to go into the break.”
Now, the Magic have a week to regroup and recover. They sit at 28-25, still firmly in the playoff hunt, and will return to action on February 19 with a tough four-game West Coast trip starting in Sacramento. The break offers a chance to reset, heal up, and, as Bane and Mosley emphasized, rediscover the consistency and defensive identity that could propel Orlando higher in the standings. For now, the Magic will have to let this one simmer, but the promise of a fresh start looms just around the corner as the NBA season’s sprint to the finish resumes.