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Milwaukee Bucks: Series With Toronto Raptors Is Tied But Not Even

By Josh Cornelissen

Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles past Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles past Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) goes to shoot against Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) goes to shoot against Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto Needed Its Best To Win

When the Raptors won Game 2, they got strong performances from their best players. Serge Ibaka stepped up in a huge way, scoring 13 of his 16 points in the deciding second half. DeRozan put up 23 points, and Jonas Valanciunas put up a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Corey Joseph, who struggled on both ends in Game 1, hit three triples en route to 11 points. Centrally, Kyle Lowry bounced back from a four-point showing in Game 1 to put up 22 points, capped with fourth quarter heroics to will the Raptors to the win.

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    • The Toronto Raptors played well – and the Bucks were still there at the end. Giannis Antetokounmpo shot just 9-of-24, unusual given his ability to score around the basket. Rookie of the Year candidate Malcolm Brogdon was 3-for-11. Backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova was 3-for-10, including a pair of crucial late misses.

    The Bucks did not play well – and they were still there at the end. Generally teams with the greater talent are the ones who can play poorly and still have an opportunity to win a game. That’s not supposed to happen with an underdog team barely above .500 with its second-leading scorer sidelined by an ACL tear.

    The Toronto Raptors were supposed to be one of the deepest teams in the league, with an All-Star backcourt, wing depth and a versatile rotation of bigs. Yet it’s the talent of the Bucks shining through thus far. If Antetokounmpo makes shots in the games to come, it already looks bleak for the Raptors to win the series.

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