Short-handed Raptors beat by Antetokounmpo’s slumping Bucks

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When the schedule-makers drew up the opening games of the second year of the NBA Cup, they probably didn’t think Toronto versus Milwaukee would feature the NBA’s two worst teams.

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Yet Toronto came in with nine losses, Milwaukee eight. Nobody else had more than seven entering Tuesday and both squads had only managed two wins. Toronto was the only one lacking a road victory.

Things stayed that way as the Bucks defended home court well by shutting down the paint against a short-handed Raptors team.

Milwaukee won 99-85 with two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and centre Brook Lopez providing intimidating defence. Despite missing all-stars Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, the Bucks got up plenty of shots (a whopping 56 three-point attempts to 25 by the Raptors) and feasted on Raptors turnovers.

Toronto was once again without Scottie Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Ja’Kobe Walter and Bruce Brown, but lost starting point guard Immanuel Quickley as well for weeks due to an elbow strain.

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Gradey Dick did all he could with 22 of Toronto’s 43 points at halftime and a career-best 32 in all, but the Raptors struggled mightily from the field.

Antetokounmpo had 23 points, seven assists, four blocks and four rebounds in a relatively quiet night for him. Bobby Portis had 17 off the bench.

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Toronto had trailed by five after a quarter despite holding the Bucks to 33.3% shooting from the field.

Dick’s two three-pointers were the only ones by the Raptors in the opening 24 minutes on only six attempts. Meanwhile, the Bucks, even without Lillard, were letting it fly, getting up 31 treys and making nine.

The Raptors gave up 17 points off 14 turnovers. They also coughed up 12 second-chance points. Milwaukee took 18 more shots in the first half.

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Dick also took a charge on Antetokounmpo in the opening minute.

Starting centre Jakob Poeltl and fellow big men Chris Boucher and Bruno Fernando provided some pop to help Dick, but that was about it for Toronto in the first half.

But Toronto went on an 11-0 run to start the third quarter to tie the game, briefly making the game interesting, before Milwaukee regained its composure and went on a 22-5 run to pull away.

The game marked the end of a season-long five-game road trip, though the team will start a four-game trip in less than two weeks.

Toronto’s second NBA Cup game comes Friday at home against the Detroit Pistons. Other games will be against Indiana and Miami. All 30 teams were randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2023-24 regular season. Eight teams advance to the knockout round.

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