Raptors even playoff series with Bucks
Offense stymied by pace of play
A slower tempo suited the Toronto Raptors just fine.
It wasn’t so good for the Milwaukee Bucks, who felt like they were struggling in quicksand in an 87-76 loss in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Saturday afternoon at a sold-out BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Raptors bounced back for the second time in the bestof-seven series to even it at 2-2 entering Game 5 on Monday night in Toronto. And it also was a huge bounce-back game for Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, who finished with a game-high 33 points after failing to hit a field goal in Game 3.
“Our tempo was extremely slow,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “Give them credit; they slowed us down. It wasn’t a high-scoring game. No one could make a shot.
“But our tempo in that second half came to a halt. Our energy level was low, for whatever reason. We’ve got to fix that going into Game 5.”
Despite all their struggles, the Bucks were within 74-69
midway through the fourth quarter. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo committed consecutive turnovers and Raptors guard Norman Powell, inserted into the starting lineup by coach Dwane Casey, scored five straight points to give Toronto a 10-point lead.
The Bucks could not recover.
“We just couldn’t really score, honestly,” center Greg Monroe said. “They only had 87 points. It was just a sloppy game for us.
“We definitely got off to a slow start; we didn’t come out energetic. We have to come out ready. It’s the playoffs. From the tip to the last horn, you’ve got to play at a high level.”
Kyle Lowry scored 18 points for Toronto and Powell added 12 while hitting 3 of 3 from threepoint distance. DeRozan was 12 for 22 from the field as he got to his spots throughout the game and avoided the Bucks’ trapping defense.
“We had dinner last night and we watched the (NBA) games in the room, and he (DeRozan) said he was going to play better,” Lowry said. “That’s all that matters. He said it’s going to be a different game. And I ride with my guy.”
DeRozan said he tried to get to his spots quicker and he often started from the middle of the floor, where he was able to get into the lane and hit his deadly mid-range shot.
“I was just going quick, being aggressive, not waiting on the doubles,” DeRozan said. “It was getting to my sweet spot and making a quick move, a quick play.
“We played two Game 7s last year; we played six games in the conference finals with the champs (the Cleveland Cavaliers). You go back to every moment you were in and understand what needs to be done, if you’re coming off a bad game.”
The Bucks shot only 37% (30 of 81) and the Raptors were at 41% (33 of 80). Toronto’s defense stymied both Antetokounmpo (6 of 19, including 0 of 7 in the second half) and Middleton (4 of 13).
Tony Snell led the Bucks with 19 points and made all five of the Bucks’ three-pointers (in 10 attempts), but his teammates were 0 for 11 from beyond the arc. Monroe had 14 points and nine rebounds and Antetokounmpo ended with a series-low 14 points. Middleton had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
“We kind of kept it in the half court a little bit more,” Lowry said. “When we started the series we were like, ‘We’ve got to play faster.’ But that’s what they want to do.
“They want to get Giannis out in the open floor and get Snell some trail threes and Middleton some shots. We played just a little bit more under control; we played our type of game. 87-76, that’s old-school Eastern Conference basketball right there. It was kind of ugly, but we won. That’s all that matters.”
Monroe said the Bucks’ confidence won’t be shaken as they head back to the Air Canada Centre for a pivotal fifth game.
“We’re going in there trying to win,” Monroe said. “There will be momentum swings and the series will be up and down. But the confidence going into games will never change from our standpoint.”
Kidd said the Bucks weren’t rattled by the Raptors’ lineup switch. In addition to Powell’s strong play, center Jonas Valanciunas played well off the bench while contributing 12 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Valanciunas entered the game when Monroe did midway through the first quarter.
“We expected there could be a change coming, going to a smaller lineup and putting (Serge) Ibaka at the 5,” Kidd said. “Maybe it helped them. Valanciunas was good off the bench for them.
“They were able to get their hands on balls and steals. We’ve got to be tougher with the ball. This was a physical game. The referees were letting the players play.”