In a battle between two teams struggling at the bottom of the standings, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors 99-85 on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup matchup.
Antetokounmpo, who scored 23 points, led the charge for the Bucks, who improved to 3-8 on the season. Despite missing star guard Damian Lillard, who remains in concussion protocol, Milwaukee was able to snap a two-game losing streak and get back on track.
Bobby Portis was a key contributor off the bench, adding 17 points to support Antetokounmpo’s efforts, while Brook Lopez chipped in with 13 points. AJ Green and Ryan Rollins also made significant contributions, scoring 12 points each. With a balanced offensive attack, the Bucks were able to overcome Toronto’s strong individual effort, holding on for the win despite a late rally by the Raptors.
For Toronto, second-year guard Gradey Dick had a breakout performance, scoring a career-high 32 points. Dick was a constant offensive threat, particularly in the first half, where he scored 22 of his points and hit 12 of 14 free throws. However, despite Dick’s stellar performance, the Raptors struggled to maintain offensive consistency, ultimately falling to 2-10 on the season.
Jakob Poeltl and Chris Boucher also contributed for the Raptors, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Bucks. Toronto was once again hindered by their inability to sustain a full game of strong play, leading to their fifth consecutive loss.
The game’s turning point came midway through the third quarter, after the Raptors had mounted a strong start to the second half. Toronto opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run, cutting Milwaukee’s lead to just 54-54. But the Bucks quickly responded with an 11-2 run of their own, capped by a crucial 3-pointer from AJ Green, which pushed their lead back to double digits. From that point on, Milwaukee was able to maintain control, building a lead as large as 21 points early in the fourth quarter.
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Despite the Bucks’ offensive struggles, particularly from beyond the arc, where they finished just 16-of-56 (28.6%) from 3-point range, the game was never truly in doubt after the third-quarter surge. Milwaukee’s focus on getting the ball into the hands of Antetokounmpo, while using their perimeter shooting to space the floor, ultimately proved effective in counteracting the Raptors’ defensive focus on the Greek Freak in the paint.
The Raptors’ defense, which had been concentrated on slowing down Antetokounmpo, allowed the Bucks to generate open looks from deep, but the poor shooting from the perimeter kept the game closer than it could have been. While Dick’s free-throw accuracy and overall offensive output kept Toronto in the mix, their lack of depth and inability to generate consistent scoring from other players made it difficult for them to mount a serious challenge as the game progressed.
Key moments in the fourth quarter included a series of missed opportunities by the Raptors to close the gap. Toronto managed to cut the Bucks’ lead to 10 points with less than five minutes remaining, but failed to execute on offense, and their defense couldn’t stop Milwaukee from securing the win. Ultimately, the Raptors’ inability to build on their third-quarter momentum doomed them to yet another loss.
For the Bucks, the victory was a much-needed one after back-to-back defeats. Despite not having Lillard in the lineup, the team found ways to contribute collectively, with strong performances from Portis, Lopez, and Green, while Antetokounmpo continued to assert his dominance. The win also provided a positive sign for the Bucks as they continue to adjust to life without their All-Star guard.
In terms of team stats, the Bucks shot 49% from the floor, while Toronto struggled to find a rhythm, shooting just 41.4% for the game. Milwaukee’s ability to rebound and distribute the ball effectively helped mitigate their shooting woes, with the Bucks finishing the game with 25 assists. In contrast, Toronto was unable to create the same level of offensive flow and only managed 14 assists.
The loss was another tough blow for the Raptors, who have now dropped five straight games. While Dick’s career-high performance was a silver lining, it’s clear that Toronto’s struggles remain centered around their inconsistent team play and inability to execute in critical moments. The Raptors will need to regroup quickly if they hope to get back into the playoff conversation.
Key Stat: The Bucks shot just 28.6% from 3-point range (16-of-56), but their balanced offense and strong defense allowed them to control the game.
Key Moment: The Bucks’ 11-2 run to answer the Raptors’ 11-0 start to the third quarter helped push their lead back to double digits and put the game out of reach.
Up Next:
- The Raptors will host the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
- The Bucks will return home to host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
