Raptors perfect no more
MILWAUKEE No Giannis Antetokounmpo, no problem for the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the way they’re shooting from the 3-point line, the Bucks look like they can beat just about anybody in the NBA.
Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 19 points and the Bucks cruised without the injured Antetokounmpo to beat the Toronto Raptors 124109 on Monday night in a showdown of the NBA’s last undefeated teams.
Milwaukee improved to 7-0 in a marquee matchup that lost some lustre with Antetokounmpo in concussion protocol and Raptors star Kawhi Leonard sitting out to rest.
The Bucks’ start to the season matches the 1971-72 club for best in franchise history. Milwaukee made up for Antetokounmpo’s absence with another strong showing from the perimeter, with Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe chipping in 17 points each.
“Of course we have more confidence when (Antetokounmpo) is on the floor,” Brogdon said. “But we have a lot of confidence even when he’s not on the floor due to the system and due to the confidence that (coach Mike Budenholzer) gives us.”
Serge Ibaka scored 30 points for Toronto, which had its franchise-best 6-0 start snapped. Pascal Siakam added 22.
They still couldn’t keep up with the Bucks, who eclipsed the 110-point mark for the seventh straight game even without the high-flying Antetokounmpo, who averages 25.0 points and 14.2 rebounds.
“They dictated the tempo of the game tonight,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said.
WARRIORS 149, BULLS 124
CHICAGO — Klay Thompson broke teammate Stephen Curry’s NBA record with 14 3-pointers and finished with 52 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Thompson set the mark when he nailed a 3 with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Thompson played only 27 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter.
He had been in a shooting slump to start the season, making just 5 of 36 from behind the arc in the Warriors’ first seven games. Thompson was 14 for 24 against the Bulls.
The All-Star guard busted out of the slump quickly with 22 points in the first quarter and had 36 at the half as Golden State was up 92-50. It was the second-highest scoring half by an NBA team. Phoenix scored 107 in the first half of a 173-143 victory over Denver in 1990.
TIMBERWOLVES 124, LAKERS 120
MINNEAPOLIS — Jimmy Butler hit five of Minnesota’s eight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with 32 points and help the Timberwolves hang on to beat LeBron James and the Lakers.
KINGS 123, HEAT 113
MIAMI — Willie CauleyStein scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Buddy Hield added 23 points and Sacramento ran past Miami.
SPURS 113, MAVERICKS 108, OT
SAN ANTONIO — DeMar DeRozan had 34 points and nine assists and San Antonio withstood a 31-point outburst by Dallas rookie Luka Doncic for the overtime victory.