'TEAM FIRST' PLAYERS STEP UP FOR BUCKS

Lopez, Middleton and Carter keep Magic at bay despite absence of Antetokounmpo

ORLANDO - The Milwaukee Bucks shrugged off the absence of star man Giannis Antetokounmpo to tighten their grip on top spot in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Eastern Conference on Tuesday with a 134-123 road win over the Orlando Magic.

The Bucks lost All-Star Antetokounmpo to illness and Jrue Holiday because of a sore neck, but still moved 21⁄2 games clear of the Boston Celtics with a clinical offensive display that saw Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Jevon Carter share the scoring around.

"I really think it's just the calibre of players we have," Lopez said on ESPN on how Milwaukee have players who can step up.

"We've got guys who are high basketball IQ and are unselfish, team first. It's great to have a couple of those guys, but to have a bench full of them, we're really lucky."

The centre finished with 26 points after shooting 64.3 per cent from the field while Middleton and Carter both chipped in with 24 points apiece.

Bobby Portis, Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles also finished in double digits for the Bucks, who have now won nine straight games on the road.