Resilient Raptors ready for Cavaliers

The Raptors keep getting themselves into tough situations in the playoffs.

They hope that resilience makes them stronger as they get ready to face the Cavaliers. The Eastern Conference semifinals beginMonday in Cleveland.

At the very least, the Raptors will need to get better at holding on to big leads after blowing a 25-point advantage against the Bucks before winning 92-89 on Thursday night to take a physical, tiring first-round series in six games.

“We’re just a team up north,” coach Dwane Casey said. “We don’t get a lot of respect, and I like that. As amatter of fact, I thinkwe’re better with our backs against thewall.

“We’ve got some fighters and scrappers. Wemake it hard on ourselves sometimes, but we’re going to go down swinging.”

The Raptors, whowon three in a rowafter getting blown out by 27 points in Game 3, looked as if theywere on cruise control Thursday after DeMarre Carroll’s 3-pointer put them ahead 71-46 with 5 minutes, 16 seconds left in the third quarter. Then they started resembling the team from Game 3.

Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded the Bucks’ secondrally. He repeatedly tore through the Raptors defense to get to the lane, finishing with 34 points. Khris Middleton fought through an illness that bothered him all week to score 19 points.

Casey said his team lost some composure during the Bucks’ run.

“Ourphysicality is somethingwe have to look at,” he said. “(But) I loved howour guys didn’t cave in.”

Said guard DeMar DeRozan, who scored 32 points and had five steals: “(We’re) ready for the next one.”

Thomas won’tmiss games: Point guard Isaiah Thomas plans to attend his sister’s funeral Saturday without missing any games in the Celtics’ first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Bulls.

Thomas’ cousin, Johari Thomas, confirmed that the Celtics starwould fly to Tacoma for the funeral after Game 6onFriday night in Chicago. Hewould flyback toBostonby Sunday in time for Game 7, if necessary.

ChynaThomas, 22, died in a car accidentApril 15, the day before the Celtics began their series against the Bulls. AP