In a matchup between two of the NBA’s struggling teams, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points to guide the Milwaukee Bucks to a 99-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. The game, part of the NBA Cup competition, pitted the teams with the worst records in the league, making the outcome even more significant for both squads as they look to improve their seasons.
Bobby Portis played a key role for the Bucks, contributing 17 points off the bench, while Brook Lopez added 13 points. AJ Green and Ryan Rollins also had solid performances, each scoring 12 points in the win. Despite missing star guard Damian Lillard, who is currently in concussion protocol, the Bucks were able to overcome a strong effort from the Raptors.
On the other side, Toronto’s Gradey Dick had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 32 points, including 22 in the first half. Jakob Poeltl added 13 points, while Chris Boucher finished with 12 points for the Raptors (2-10). Although Dick’s explosive performance gave Toronto some hope, it wasn’t enough to overcome Milwaukee’s balanced attack.
The game was tightly contested early on, but the Bucks began to pull away midway through the third quarter. By the start of the fourth, they had built a commanding 21-point lead. The Raptors tried to rally and got within 10 points with less than five minutes remaining, but the Bucks held firm and secured the win without much threat.
One key takeaway from the game was the absence of both teams’ star players. Along with Lillard’s concussion protocol absence for Milwaukee, the Raptors were also missing Immanuel Quickley due to an elbow injury. Despite the missing personnel, both teams showed flashes of talent, but ultimately, the Bucks’ depth proved too much for the Raptors to handle.
Key Moments and Takeaways from the Bucks vs. Raptors Matchup
The Bucks held a 54-43 lead at halftime, but the Raptors came out strong to start the second half, going on an 11-0 run. Milwaukee responded quickly with an 11-2 run of their own, capped by a 3-pointer from AJ Green, which helped them regain control of the game. This back-and-forth in the third quarter set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
One of the significant storylines from the game was Milwaukee’s heavy reliance on the three-point shot. In the first half alone, the Bucks attempted 31 three-pointers as the Raptors focused much of their defensive attention on Antetokounmpo in the paint. However, Milwaukee struggled with its shooting, finishing the game 16 of 56 (28.6%) from beyond the arc. Despite the poor shooting performance, the Bucks were able to control the game with their defense and overall team effort.
For the Raptors, Dick’s first-half performance was one of the few bright spots, as he finished the game with a career-high 32 points. His 22-point first half included an impressive 12-of-14 showing from the free-throw line. Coming into the game, Dick was averaging 19 points per game, but he had to carry a heavy load for the Raptors throughout the contest. However, even with his career-best effort, Toronto couldn’t keep up with the Bucks, who had a more well-rounded attack.
Bucks and Raptors: What’s Next?
With the win, the Bucks improve to 3-8 on the season, while the Raptors fall to 2-10. Both teams will look to build on this performance, but they will need to make significant improvements to compete with the higher-ranked teams in the league. The Bucks, despite missing Lillard, showed the importance of their depth and how they can rely on multiple players to step up when needed. For the Raptors, it’s clear that Dick is emerging as a promising young talent, but they will need more contributions from other players if they hope to turn their season around.
Both teams are still in the early stages of their respective campaigns, but this victory will give the Bucks some momentum as they head into the rest of the NBA season. With Lillard’s return on the horizon, Milwaukee could get a boost, and if their three-point shooting improves, they could become more dangerous in future matchups. For the Raptors, the search for consistency continues, and they will need to find ways to supplement Dick’s scoring with better team play if they hope to climb out of the league’s basement.
As the NBA Cup progresses, both teams will look to find their rhythm and move up the standings, but for now, the Bucks can take pride in this important win over the Raptors.
