Brief-handed Raptors beat by Antetokounmpo’s slumping Bucks

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When the schedule-makers drew up the opening video games of the second yr of the NBA Cup, they most likely didn’t assume Toronto versus Milwaukee would characteristic the NBA’s two worst groups.

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But Toronto got here in with 9 losses, Milwaukee eight. No one else had greater than seven getting into Tuesday and each squads had solely managed two wins. Toronto was the one one missing a highway victory.

Issues stayed that means because the Bucks defended dwelling court docket nicely by shutting down the paint in opposition to a short-handed Raptors crew.

Milwaukee gained 99-85 with two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and centre Brook Lopez offering intimidating defence. Regardless of lacking all-stars Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, the Bucks received up loads of photographs (a whopping 56 three-point makes an attempt to 25 by the Raptors) and feasted on Raptors turnovers.

Toronto was as soon as once more with out Scottie Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Ja’Kobe Walter and Bruce Brown, however misplaced place to begin guard Immanuel Quickley as nicely for weeks as a result of an elbow pressure.

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Gradey Dick did all he might with 22 of Toronto’s 43 factors at halftime and a career-best 32 in all, however the Raptors struggled mightily from the sector.

Antetokounmpo had 23 factors, seven assists, 4 blocks and 4 rebounds in a comparatively quiet night time for him. Bobby Portis had 17 off the bench.

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Toronto had trailed by 5 after 1 / 4 regardless of holding the Bucks to 33.3% capturing from the sector.

Dick’s two three-pointers have been the one ones by the Raptors within the opening 24 minutes on solely six makes an attempt. In the meantime, the Bucks, even with out Lillard, have been letting it fly, getting up 31 treys and making 9.

The Raptors gave up 17 factors off 14 turnovers. Additionally they coughed up 12 second-chance factors. Milwaukee took 18 extra photographs within the first half.

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Dick additionally took a cost on Antetokounmpo within the opening minute.

Beginning centre Jakob Poeltl and fellow massive males Chris Boucher and Bruno Fernando supplied some pop to assist Dick, however that was about it for Toronto within the first half.

However Toronto went on an 11-0 run to begin the third quarter to tie the sport, briefly making the sport fascinating, earlier than Milwaukee regained its composure and went on a 22-5 run to drag away.

The sport marked the tip of a season-long five-game highway journey, although the crew will begin a four-game journey in lower than two weeks.

Toronto’s second NBA Cup sport comes Friday at dwelling in opposition to the Detroit Pistons. Different video games shall be in opposition to Indiana and Miami. All 30 groups have been randomly drawn into teams of 5 inside their convention based mostly on win-loss data from the 2023-24 common season. Eight groups advance to the knockout spherical.

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