- Toronto Raptors beat Milwaukee Bucks in the clash of two leading teams in the Eastern Conference.
- The champions started to pull away in the second period, and they kept the difference until the end.
- Both coaches decided to rest the vital players.
- Raptors start the playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets.
Raptors Get an Edge Over Bucks
Even though the Bucks appeared without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Toronto’s 114-106 win can’t be diminished, because Raptors played without their starting guards, Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet.
Coach Nick Nurse decided to leave out Serge Ibaka too, as all of these guys had minor troubles with injuries and one of the finalists for the NBA Coach of the Year award didn’t want to risk anything.
The replacements he put in instead of the starting duo played more than well. Norman Powell scored 21 points, with four threes in five attempts, grabbing 8 rebounds, and stealing the ball twice. Terrance Davis spent 16 minutes on the floor for 10 points.
Rookie Matt Thomas was the star of the night. He would score 22 points, drilling four threes and added four rebounds, forcing Nurse to keep him in the game for 37 minutes.
“I do my best to always stay ready, regardless of the situation, because I never know when my number is going to be called, so that is my role in the team right now,” Thomas said.
He was something the Bucks didn’t expect to see, the same as Chris Boucher who had a team-high for the champions, with 25 points. Apart from that, the forward had 11 boards, five offensive, two blocks, steals and assists.
“Just being ready and when the opportunity is there — to play hard and show what you’re capable of doing,” he said.
Pascal Siakam scored 14 points, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 11.
Bucks’ Slow Without Giannis
The second quarter was the turning point of the contest, with the Raptors winning this one 31-22, and going to the pause with a 67-53 advantage. They would keep the distance until the end, increasing it at certain points, before slowing down in the final minutes.
All the players apart from Giannis played, and it seems that this Monday, the Bucks weren’t able to compete, which is a massive headache for the head coach Mike Budenholzer.
“Most concerning is continued not having the effort and execution defensively, not being who we are,” he said after the game.
Kyle Korver had 19 points, shooting threes 5-for-6, and having four boards. Khris Middleton added 17, George Hill 14, Brook Lopez 12 with 8 rebounds.
Ersan Ilyasova had 9 with seven rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo 6 and nine boards Pat Connaughton 12 and five. Overall, the Bucks were pretty poor from the field with 39.3%, 33-for-84.
Milwaukee clinched the first seed several games ago, and they will be facing the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. On the other side, Toronto awaits the Brooklyn Nets. It is hard to say who has a tougher opponent, but it seems that the Magic are a bit better than the Nets who are crippled with injuries.
