The league-leading Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors last night in Canada, increasing their advantage in the Eastern Conference standings over the biggest rivals. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the boys were better with 108-97, winning their 50th match of the season.
The Bucks hit the gas immediately after the start of the second half, turning the result upside down, and taking command of the floor. The Raptors were leading 51-39 a little bit less than three minutes before the end of the halftime, but the Bucks shifted the momentum onto their side with an 11-1 series, creating a positive swing before the start of the second part of the contest. It is what their coach Mike Budenholzer stated following the event.
“Obviously the end of the second quarter was really big for us,” Budenholzer said. “We were not having a very good half.”
Neither of the sides played well offensively, with both teams posting under 40% of field goal made. The Raptors were 32-for-91 and 18-for-52 for three, which pretty much tells you that they didn’t have too many options in attack and that they relied upon downtown shots.
“We were incredible [defensively] for 22 minutes,” coach Nurse said. “There was hardly a bad possession. They were shooting air balls all over the place, tough shots, we were active, all over the place. I think our lack of scoring [hurt us].”
Apart from Siakam, who had a solid shooting night, all other starters were below any decent level. Fred VanVleet was 5-for-14, Kyle Lowry 2-for-12, and Serge Ibaka 2-for-15, with one made in 10 three-point tries.
Siakam ended the night with 22 points, which were a team-high, 6-for-14 from the field, and five threes in nine attempts. The MOP of the last year added six rebounds as well.
VanVleet had 14 points, OG Anunoby had 11 points, while Kyle Lowry, Chris Boucher, and Terence Davis all ended the night with 10 points. In general, a slim performance from all the leaders.
On the other side, the Bucks’ starters were much better. Khris Middleton scored 22 points, with eight boards, Eric Bledsoe added 17, and Brook Lopez 15.
Giannis was near a triple-double with 19 points and boards and 8 assists. He wasn’t in the usual mode for scoring, but his impact on the game was massive. The Bucks controlled the glass very well, and the reigning MVP posted all 19 boards in defense. Ibaka, Siakam, and all other athletic players in the home team couldn’t get past beside him.
Giannis was talking about the last time he was here, and the loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, once his Bucks finished the season.
“You always remember the last time you played here, the feelings you had,” Antetokounmpo said. “It was definitely on my mind.”
Up next, Milwaukee (50-8) jumps back to its Fiserv Forum to meed the Oklahoma City Thunder, and after that, has two games on the road, vs. the Hornets and the Heat.
On the other side, the Raptors (42-16) meet the Hornets at home, and then go to a five-game road trip throughout the West, with the show starting in Denver against the Nuggets on Sunday.
