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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from heart-breaking Game 6 vs. Raptors

By Daniel Lubofsky

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 25: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

A double-digit third-quarter lead wasn’t enough to help the Milwaukee Bucks stave off elimination against the Toronto Raptors in Game 6.

Down 3-2 in their series with the Toronto Raptors, the Milwaukee Bucks headed into Game 6 with their season on the line and certainly went out and played like it. They came out firing in the first quarter with a 31-18 advantage, shooting 57.0 percent from the field to Toronto’s 32.0 percent.

Milwaukee built up a lead as high as 15 mid-way through the third quarter and headed into the final frame up five. For a team that had yet to emerge victorious on the road so far in the conference finals, it was as good a position to be in.

Ultimately, it was the Bucks’ inability to generate half-court offense that once again plagued them in their most crucial game of the year. They scored just 18 points in the entirety of the fourth quarter, leading to a 100-94 defeat at the hands of the Raptors to end their season at an earlier date than some would’ve hoped.

The Bucks were led once again in scoring by Giannis Antetokounmpo, although the performance was hardly his best with 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting. For as dominant as he was all season long, these conference finals exposed a number of holes in Giannis’ otherworldly game, ones that will certainly be looked at in the coming months.

Brook Lopez stepped up with 18 points and nine rebounds yet failed to convert on any one of his three attempts from beyond the arc. Khris Middleton wrapped up a struggling series with another dud of just 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

Kawhi Leonard did just about everything he could to will Toronto to its first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals with 27 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists. Fred VanVleet continued his resurgence from 3-point land in hitting 4-of-5 from distance on his way to 14 big points off the bench.

The 2018-19 season was a tremendous and unexpected run for Milwaukee likely to set the foundation for years to come. That won’t lessen the sting pulsing through the entire organization, having come so close to the final round while at the same time realizing they still have so much left to climb.

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