TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors paid a steep worth for his or her tough begin Wednesday evening.
Damian Lillard scored 37 factors with a season-high 13 assists because the Milwaukee Bucks held off a late comeback effort to prime the Raptors 128-112.
Toronto opened the sport on an 8-2 run earlier than getting outscored 34-12 the rest of the primary quarter.
“We didn’t have any pop to start out the sport,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned. “I don’t know the explanations, however we simply didn’t carry it. Lots of instances I felt that it was poor communication in execution of the protection.
“We allowed Damian Lillard to have wonderful sport, wonderful first half. He simply picked us aside and we tried a number of coverages. It simply didn’t work tonight for us. And I believed that every part began with power and drive that we didn’t carry to start out the sport.”
The Raptors entered Wednesday’s contest coming off a comeback victory over lowly Washington. Toronto has made early deficits a behavior this season.
“Belief me, we’re fascinated about it loads, attempting to determine that out,” Rajakovic mentioned.
“I believed that within the first half that we overdribbled the ball, that we didn’t have sufficient physique motion and ball motion and that was one thing that we (are) continuously preaching and speaking about. We bought it higher within the second half however not sufficient tonight.”
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The Bucks have been minus celebrity ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo with a proper calf pressure.
Malik Beasley added 30 factors Wednesday on 11-of-14 taking pictures and going 8-of-11 from three-point vary for Milwaukee (7-4).
“He made quite a lot of well timed pictures,” Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin. “That’s what he’s right here for. He’s an unbelievable shooter.”
Griffin additionally mentioned Lillard took management of the sport early.
“He’s a grasp at selecting his spots and navigating by screens,” Griffin mentioned.
Scottie Barnes had 29 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for Toronto (5-6). Jakob Poeltl contributed 13 factors and 11 rebounds.
The Raptors have been with out defensive stalwart O.G. Anunoby (proper finger lower) for a second straight sport and guard Gary Trent Jr. (proper foot, plantar fasciitis) for a 3rd straight.
With out them, Toronto shot 39.6 per cent total and a meagre 27.3 per cent from three.
“Gary and O.G. are a few our greatest shooters, however we now have to discover a method to play the identical means,” Poeltl mentioned. “I believe we nonetheless bought to go on the market and take the identical pictures.
“We’ve different guys that may knock these pictures down.”
The Raptors dominated the Bucks 130-111 of their earlier assembly Nov. 1 at Scotiabank Enviornment.
Rookie guard-forward Gradey Dick had 11 factors in his first profession begin Wednesday to affix Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh as one in all three youngsters to start out for the Raptors at 19 years 360 days previous.
Within the second quarter, Dick hit a 19-foot jumper to trim the deficit to 50-40 with 4:48 left, the closest Toronto had been since 4:37 remained within the opening body.
However the momentum was short-lived as Beasley closed the half with a buzzer-beating three to offer the Bucks their largest lead at 70-47.
Lillard carried the rhythm of his 24-point first half into the third quarter. He scored eight of Milwaukee’s first 10 factors, because the Bucks pushed their result in 30 early within the body.
The Raptors struggled on each ends to the dismay of the gang, till an 8-0 run late within the quarter made it 98-78. Milwaukee took a 100-79 edge into the ultimate body.
A Malachi Flynn floater introduced Toronto inside 15 factors with 9:19 left within the fourth quarter, which prompted a Bucks timeout. A contested layup by Poeltl simply over two minutes later lower it to 107-94.
However Milwaukee later went on an 11-2 run capped by two consecutive three-pointers by Cameron Payne to make it 126-103 with 3:20 left when Toronto sat its starters.
UP NEXT
The Raptors open In-Season Event motion at residence towards the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Bucks go to the Charlotte Hornets for In-Season Event motion Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 15, 2023.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
