Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from big Game 4 win vs. Bucks

The Toronto Raptors tied the Eastern Conference Finals with the Milwaukee Bucks after a blowout Game 4 win in front of their home crowd, 120-102.

The Toronto Raptors had their most impressive collective team win Tuesday night over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors won all four quarters of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals and decisively looked in control from the second quarter until the final buzzer sounded.

On a night where superstar Kawhi Leonard looked hobbled, his teammates helped carry the load. In a series-low 34 minutes played, Leonard contributed on both ends of the floor with 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks on 6-for-13 shooting. Kyle Lowry led the team in scoring with 25 points and produced six assists, five rebounds and three makes from deep on 6-for-11 shooting from the field.

For the first time in the series, the Raptors’ bench outscored their opponent’s, 48-23. Serge Ibaka had a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting. Norman Powell had a team-high +29 with 18 points and five rebounds on 6-of-18 shooting.

For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with a double-double effort, producing 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on 9-of-17 shooting. It was one of his better outputs in this series, but Toronto’s defense made it very difficult for his team to get into rhythm.

Khris Middleton had his best performance in the series with a game-high 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds on highly efficient 11-of-15 shooting. No player off the bench for the Bucks scored in double figures for the first time this series.

From the opening tip, Giannis and the Bucks were aggressive trying to quiet the rowdy Scotiabank Arena fans. After an early timeout by Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, Toronto turned the tables on the Bucks going on a run of its own, led by Lowry’s relentlessness. By the end of the first quarter, the Raptors held a narrow 32-31 lead.

The second quarter was all things Raptors. Powell and Ibaka off the bench were sensational, hitting 3s, collecting offensive misses for second chance opportunities and minimizing turnovers. Lowry had 18 points in the first half with his team leading 65-55 at the break, their highest-scoring half in a playoff game.

In the third quarter, Leonard had 11 of his 19 points helping extend his team’s lead to 13 by the end of the frame. The Raptors controlled the tempo for most of the game and the team’s defense in the third frame stifled the Bucks starters’ offense. In the final quarter, the Raptors extended their lead to 20 without Leonard, Lowry or Siakam seeing the floor until the 8:35 mark.

The Raptors were never in doubt of winning the game halfway through the third quarter, relentlessly attacking the rim and finding the open man for good perimeter shots. Their defense was excellent again, limiting any potential Milwaukee runs in the final frame. Here are the takeaways from the series-tying Game 4 win.