Leonard stars as Raptors claw back to beat Bucks
LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard scored eight of his 36 points in the second overtime period Sunday to lead the Toronto Raptors to a gritty 118-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
The Raptors, who dropped the first two games of the best-ofseven series in Milwaukee, clawed their way back to 2-1 in front of home fans and will try to level the set when they host game four on Tuesday.
Pascal Siakam scored 25 points and Spanish center Marc Gasol added 16 for the Raptors, who got off to a quick start and led much of the night but had to battle to put the Bucks away.
“We just played a lot tougher,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “We were up guarding, we were physical. We were ready to play tonight.”
Milwaukee’s Most Valuable Player finalist Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled to just 12 points on five-of-16 shooting.
Antetokounmpo’s 23 rebounds helped the Bucks stay in touch, but he didn’t reach double figures in points until the middle of the fourth quarter and he produced eight of the Bucks’ 20 turnovers.
D’ANTONI LOOKING FOR CONTRACT EXTENSION
HOUSTON: Houston Rockets coach Mike D’antoni is interested in coaching at least three more years, he told ESPN on Sunday night. D’antoni and the Rockets have begun discussing a contract extension. D’antoni has one season remaining on his current deal but has informed owner Tilman Fertitta and general manager Daryl Morey that he doesn’t want to enter his final season without a new deal.
“I’ve let Daryl and Tilman know that I’m energized to keep coaching – and believe that I can continue to do this at a high level for at least another three years,” the 68-year-old D’antoni told ESPN. “I want to be a part of a championship here.”