Patrick Beverley delivers electric quote after Bucks take down Magic

One day after taking down the Boston Celtics at home, the Milwaukee Bucks played host to the Orlando Magic, another team in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket.

Even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season with a calf strain, and Khris Middleton, who has scarcely played on back-to-backs, the Bucks came ready to play. After briefly trailing in the first quarter, Milwaukee got hot and never let up, building a lead as large as 27 points.

Thanks to an impressive all-around team effort, the Bucks cruised to a 117-99 victory, furthering their lead on the East's second seed in the standings.

Patrick Beverley delivers electric quote after Bucks take down Magic

Many were surprised when Doc Rivers opted to start Patrick Beverley against the Boston Celtics with the team at full strength for the first time in a long time. It proved to be a good decision, and with them banged up the following night, the Bucks were sure to rely on Beverley in the starting five once again.

For the second straight outing, Beverley delivered. In just under 30 minutes, he stuffed the stat sheet, having totaled 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep, eight rebounds, six assists and a steal. The most notable stat of them all was that Beverley was a +27 on the night, by far the highest mark on the team, highlighting his impact.

After the game, Beverley was asked about the team bouncing back from their recent struggles, and he answered in pure Pat Bev fashion, saying that "Doc Rivers made a hell of a decision starting me."

In the eyes of some, this quote may be arrogant and troublesome. However, anyone who has ever seen a Beverley presser knows that this is who he is. It's part of his personality, and that is what he uses to bring his trademark edge and intensity to the floor every single night. Without quotes such as this one, Pat Bev wouldn't be Pat Bev.

Furthermore, he's not wrong. It's only been two games, but the Milwaukee Bucks have looked much more energized with Beverley in the starting lineup. He's a seamless fit with the starters, and he has elevated their play as well. It will not be surprising if Beverley sticks in the starting lineup for the rest of the NBA season. It could be a game-changing move for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Speaking of energy and intensity, Bobby Portis brought plenty of that as well, but he also had one of his best statistical games of the season with 30 points on 14-of-18 shooting, nine boards, five steals and three assists. Taking Antetokounmpo's place in the starting five, Portis was fantastic from start to finish, giving this Milwaukee Bucks team a needed spark.

Damian Lillard took over primarily control of the offense without his two other costars, finishing with 29 points on 52.6 percent shooting, nine assists and six rebounds. Amid his recent struggles, it was welcoming to see the guard knock down some shots, whether they were right at the rim, behind the arc or somewhere in between in the mid-range.

To round out the mentions, Jae Crowder needs his flowers. After not playing against Boston, he saw over 30 minutes versus Orlando, and he played with a chip on his shoulder, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, and an assist and block apiece. The forward was very aggressive on the offensive end, which helped earn him five free throw attempts on the evening.

On the other side, reserve Cole Anthony finished with 23 points to lead the Magic. The Bucks did a quality job of limiting Paolo Banchero as much as possible, holding him to 20 points on 15 shots. Jalen Suggs had 18 points to give the Magic a lift.

Overall, this was a great win by a short-handed Milwaukee Bucks team, especially with their opponent chasing them in the standings. They will face this Orlando team once more in their final two contests.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.