THE BUCKS STOP HERE

Raptors move on to Round 2

The composure of the Toronto Raptors was pushed to the limit what would be a first-round series-clinching 92-89 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The Raptors have never won a potential clincher in six games until last night. The Raptors will open Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal Monday in Cleveland against the Cavaliers, the defending NBA champs.

The Bucks’ early punch came as expected, and like a grizzled veteran the Raptors took it flush on the chin. In the past this might have unsettled the Raptors, but this Toronto team doesn’t cower at the sight of an early deficit.

The real test came in the second half when the Raps had built a lead of 25 points and eased off, only to watch the Bucks chip away at the lead as the Toronto offence, which had been running so efficiently, bogged down like never before.

Even at the end of three quarters the lead was still 13 points. Then the fourth quarter began and the real drama started.

Through the first nine minutes of the frame, the Raptors accumulated more fouls than points with the infractions up 7-4 and the Bucks well into the bonus.

The Bucks would eventually take a three-point lead and the crowd was defeaning.

Cory Joseph came on late in the game and provided a huge threepointer from the corner with nary a defender in sight with all the attention on DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

That three-point lead would extend to five when DeRozan, in a drive as big as any he has made this season, went right through the paint and ended it with a monster throw-down.

DeRozan would finish with a Raptors high 32 points, two shy of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s gamehigh for the Bucks. The Greek Freak played all but two minutes of the game to get those 34.