NBA: Triple rain! Bucks beat Raptors

The Milwaukee Bucks (17-8) could celebrate a statement victory against the Toronto Raptors (21-7) on the road. Two late three by Malcom Brogdon secured the Bucks a 104-99 win.

The two top teams in the east lost each night from Friday to Saturday and were therefore even more under pressure in the top game. The first game of the season between the Bucks and the Raptors took place without the two superstars, the Bucks secured a 124:109 victory at home.

George Hill, who came by trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Bucks, has not yet been deployed. Before the game Hill said: “To come here and know what Coach Budenholzer wants, the culture he brings here… That fits my playing style.”

After the Milwaukee Bucks hit their first four throws, the Toronto Raptors came into the game better because the ball ran strongly through the ranks of the Canadians. It was noticeable that the Bucks left some Raptors open on the triple line. For example, Serge Ibaka, who was able to punish this (4/11 threesome). On the other hand, Brook Lopez caused a sensation with 10 points in the first section. A three of Khris Middleton just before the siren was the final point of the quarter, 30:25.

A weak phase for the Raptors, with Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam on bench at the time, gave the Bucks a small lead. But then Giannis Antetokounmpo had to take to the bench: First Middleton and Co. were able to defend themselves, but then the hosts started a 10-0 run. Lopez-Time was then again: the Big Man hit a stepback and a deep threesome. The Bucks led at halftime, 49:51.

After the break, the intensity of the defense remained very high. Neither the Raptors nor the Bucks were able to make a decisive break for themselves. However, the Canadians missed a few chances, so Milwaukee went into the final section with a 79:74 lead.

At the beginning of the last quarter, the Bucks took a comfortable 8-point lead, but the Raptors remained unimpressed. About four minutes before the end Fred van Vleet was on the spot: in Fastbreak he pulls the trigger from downtown – Bang! The Raptors led with 94:92. Shortly afterwards Leonard showed why he is one of the best two-way players in the league. In the front he met a threesome, in the back he forced a turnover from Middleton. However, Malcolm Brogdon was on the spot: within 20 seconds he hit two important threes. The visitors were leading 40 seconds before the end with 100:97. Van Vleet shortened the time to one point with just half a minute before the end. After the inbound, Giannis pulled strongly to the basket and increased to 99:102. The Raptors still had a chance: Leonard got the ball, but threw away a deep threesome and thus made the decision.

At the Bucks, Antetokounmpo (8/15 FG) and Lopez (5/8 Dreier) were the top scorers with 19 points each. The Greak Freak came with 19 rebounds on a double-double. Brogdon also contributed 18 counters (3/5 threes). Ibaka was the top scorer with 22 points and 6 boards. Kawhi came to 20 points (8/18 FG), 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Van Vleet scored 19 points from the bench and scored 5 threes.

Milwaukee has to fight the Cleveland Cavaliers in the night from Monday to Tuesday, while the Raptors meet the LA Clippers one day later in the City of Angels.

Toronto Raptors (21-7) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (17-8) 99:104 (BOXSCORE)

The Bucks were hot from the outside. They met 38.5 percent of Downtwon (15/39 threes), while the Raptors caught a more average day (34.1 percent). From the field, the Raptors scored 41.5 percent, slightly better than the Bucks (41.4 percent).

The game was a symbol of modern basketball. Both teams – and also their Big Man – took many threes. In the Bucks, Lopez was the best shooter with five threes. Ibaka also met four triples on the Raptors’ side. Combined, they pulled 19 shots from downtown. Both teams scored 15 threes.

Normally the Fastbreak is a strength of Toronto, but the Bucks managed to eliminate it completely. It was not until the final section that the Raptors scored their first fastbreak points. But at the end there are still only 7 points (bucks 12 points). On average for the season the Canadians score 18 points in Fastbreak.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): “We did a great job today and trusted each other. The ball went well, Malcolm Brogdon hit important throws for us.”

Eric Bledsoe (Milwaukee Bucks): “Very good team win. One of the best this season.”

Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors): “The defeat hurts of course. We should have moved into the Zone much more aggressively.”

Nick Nurse (Coach Toronto Raptors): “I think we did a lot of things well enough to win. But we had problems with the scoring. I’m not looking at 20 or 25 turnovers here now. The question is rather that we need to get back the self-confidence to hit the open throws.”

At Milwaukee Bucks the load was spread over several shoulders. Giannis was somewhat “stopped” by the Raptors, unlike Lopez. The center hit five threes and was the top scorer of the Bucks with 19 points. Also strong: Brogdon, who kept his cool in the last section and scattered two important triples.

Kyle Lowry was a disappointment to the Raptors tonight. He had no point and scored none of his five throws in the entire game. Over the last three games, he’s now at a nasty 3 out of 21. Nonetheless, he’s been leading the Raptors’ offense as solidly as usual, coming up with 7 assists and 5 rebounds.

In the final actions of the game, the Raptors went exclusively through Kawhi Leonard, while Mike Budenholzer continued to play team basketball instead of isolating Giannis. The ball ran strongly through the ranks of the Bucks. The result: Two wide open triads from Brogdon.