Milwaukee Bucks: 3 Takeaways from the 123-91 win over the Orlando Magic

Energy from the Bench Mob

After a slow start to the game, the tide started to turn when the Bucks’ reserve unit stepped on to the floor in the latter part of the first quarter.

Sterling Brown and Donte DiVincenzo certainly stood out in that regard, bringing a rejuvenating energy that kickstarted the run that allowed the Bucks to pull away in the second quarter.

Brown set the tone defensively, and made a point to snag any and every defensive rebound in his area code. In just 21 minutes of action, he grabbed 11 boards, 10 of which were on the defensive glass. He also had a nice pull-up three in transition and totaled nine points off the bench.

DiVincenzo contributed 14 points off the bench, and most notably, hit four of his seven three point attempts. With his well-documented shooting struggles being an issue throughout his rookie campaign and following him into the preseason, it was nice to see the second-year guard shoot confidently and with success Friday night.

Despite the energy he brings on a nightly basis, Donte will need to continue to have success shooting the ball like he showed in Orlando if he hopes to carve out a meaningful role in the Bucks’ rotation this season.

DiVincenzo and Brown had a staggering impact in their limited minutes. Donte was a +34 in his 17 minutes of action, while Brown was a +26 in his 21 minutes. Both played an important role in turning the tide in the first half.

Other contributors included George Hill, who also added nine points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting to go along with a pair of assists in his 15 minutes of action. Ersan Ilyasova hit two of his five triples in 17 minutes and finished with 10 points.

The Bench Mob as a whole provided a much needed spark after a slow start to the game.