Author: Nick Osen
MILWAUKEE-In their first game since Thanksgiving, the Milwaukee Bucks played host to the Toronto Raptors for Fear the Deer Night at the Bradley Center. Both teams came into the contest in the top half of the Easter Conference, with the Raptors at 9-6, and the Bucks at 6-7.
This one had a playoff atmosphere in the building from the start.
The first 12 points of the contest came entirely off of three-pointers, three points each from Jabari Parker and DeMarre Carroll, and six coming from Kyle Lowry off of back-to-back deep threes. The Raptors kept up the hot shooting which gave them a 13-4 lead, as they did not miss a shot for over three minutes into the game.
The Bucks answered back with some pretty plays of their own, including a slam from Parker and an alley-oop jam from Miles Plumlee. About midway through the first quarter, the home squad trailed 16-15, and Giannis Antetokounmpo went out with his second foul about two minutes later. Both teams stepped up their defense, and the Raptors led 27-24 after one. Carroll led all scores with nine on 3-for-4 from deep.
Milwaukee opened up the second period with a deep three from newcomer Mirza Teletovic at the end of the shot-clock, as the crowd really got into it for the home team. Matthew Dellavedova returned for the Bucks and had a couple picture-perfect passes, including one to The Greek Freak for the slam. Toronto continued to hit open jumpshots, and led 36-33 at the midpoint of the quarter, and extended the lead to 47-42 at the half.
The Raptors opened up the second half 11-7 and made the lead 58-49, thanks to six points in a row from Jonas Valanciunas. Malcolm Brogdon did a great job guarding Kyle Lowry, an all-star who is ultra quick and can shoot. Brogdon also stepped up on the offensive end, draining a three as shot-clock went off, on a laser pass from Giannis.
Antetokounmpo seems to have an amazing play every game, and tonight was no different, driving through three Toronto defenders and throwing it down to bring the Bucks within six in the third. Raptors' Terrence Ross was called for a technical foul at the end of the quarter, but Milwaukee couldn't capitalize and trailed 73-67 headed into the fourth.
Greg “Moose” Monroe completely posted up his defender, opening up the scoring in the final quarter with an easy two. Toronto extended their lead to seven three different times, but every time Milwaukee answered back with a three, bringing the crowd to their feet.
The Bucks kept fighting back, but a Parker miss and Lowry three with under a minute left sealed their fate, losing 105-99.
Milwaukee falls to 6-8, and will play host to the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers (11-2) on Tuesday.
