MILWAUKEE -- So much for building momentum.
With a chance to win their third straight game and gain separation on the teams chasing them in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a letdown Saturday night.
Milwaukee struggled on both ends after the first quarter, allowing the lowly Orlando Magic to come away with a 97-90 victory at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
"I thought that was a tough loss for us," Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams said. "I think we really needed that one. But now we just have to win one that we're not supposed to."
Milwaukee appeared ready to take care of business, as it jumped out to 22-10 lead. Carrying over the ball movement and defensive effort from the Chicago and Boston wins, the Bucks didn't commit a turnover and assisted on nine of 12 made field goals in the first quarter.
But Orlando outscored Milwaukee, 74-59, over the final three quarters to pick up just its third road win over a playoff team this season.
"You look at our pace and it just died after that first quarter," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "We have to look at the video and ask why."
The Bucks looked as if they may survive after a steal by Carter-Williams and a 3-point play by Giannis Antetokounmpo put Milwaukee up, 88-84, with 3:38 left.
Orlando fought back to even the score before back-to-back corner 3s by Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo put the Magic in front, 94-90, with 1:28 remaining.
"We always have been a team that tries to protect the corners," Kidd said. "We made some mistakes leaving the corner, starting with the guy with the ball. We couldn't get back in time to contest."
After Ersan Ilyasova missed two crucial free throws, Oladipo iced the game with a runner with 45.2 seconds on the clock. The Magic ended the game on a 13-2 run, as the Bucks hit just one field goal over the last 3:38.
The Bucks are still in great shape when it comes to making the playoffs, but they could have gained a game on seventh-place Brooklyn. The Nets lost by 32 points in Atlanta on Saturday, leaving them 2 1/2 games behind the Bucks.
Miami fell in Detroit, while Boston beat Toronto on an overtime buzzer beater. The Celtics jumped over the Heat for the No. 8 seed, leaving Miami 3 1/2 games behind Milwaukee.
"They are all frustrating because we all knew what was at stake," Bucks forward Jared Dudley said. "A couple of teams lost behind us, but you don't want to look at that.
"For us, it's getting healthier, getting rest. Guys are playing a lot of minutes. I know they're young, but it's good to have one or two days off to get your legs ready for the stretch run."
Wins over Chicago and Boston left the impression that Milwaukee was hitting its stride as the playoffs drew near. Instead of moving back over .500, the Bucks laid an egg against one of the league's worst teams.
"We're still in really good shape, but we've got to get it together and really be solid come the playoffs," Carter-Williams said.
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter
