Lowry has 25, Raptors rout Bucks 120-102 to even East finals
TORONTO (AP) With a weary Kawhi Leonard fighting through fatigue, the Toronto Raptors found enough energy to pull away from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kyle Lowry led the way.
Lowry scored 25 points, Leonard had 19 and the Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 120-102 on Tuesday night to even the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece.
''This was one of the nights that we knew Kawhi was a little bit limited and we had to come out and be aggressive for him,'' Lowry said.
Leonard played 52 minutes in a double-overtime win in Game 3 on Sunday despite dealing with leg soreness. He limped away from the basket following a third-quarter dunk in Game 4, but still toughed it out for 34 minutes.
''I feel good,'' Leonard insisted. ''I'm going to keep going and keep fighting. We have a chance to make history.''
Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he's not worried about Leonard's health.
''He's certainly tired, like a lot of guys in this series are,'' Nurse said. ''He looks OK to me. There was one time I was trying to give him an extended rest and he didn't really want it so he must be OK.''
Serge Ibaka had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who improved to 7-2 at home this postseason. Reserve Norm Powell scored 18 points, and Marc Gasol had 17 points and a team-high seven assists.
''The first two games, they really brought the intensity to us,'' Powell said. ''They really came out and were more physical, more active. We wanted to change that narrative coming home.''
The home team has won all four games in the series so far. Game 5 is Thursday night in Milwaukee.
''We need to take this challenge of playing in a hostile environment,'' Nurse said. ''We're going into a tough, loud place to play. Let's see if those guys can bring that same pop and focus and determination on the road.''
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the top-seeded Bucks. Khris Middleton scored 30 points, but no one else had more than 11.
Milwaukee lost its second straight following a six-game winning streak. It dropped consecutive games just once during the regular season, at Utah on March 2 and at Phoenix on March 4.
''This is probably the first night defensively where I don't feel like we were close to where you need to be,'' coach Mike Budenholzer said. ''We got punched. They played really well.''
Toronto's Fred VanVleet, who missed 16 of 20 shot attempts through the first three games of the series, went 5 for 6 from the field in Game 4. He made each of his three 3-point tries and finished with 13 points.
''He needed one of those games,'' Lowry said. ''He played well and made some great plays tonight.''
Ahead 94-81 to start the fourth, the Raptors extended their lead with a 10-3 spurt, including seven points from VanVleet. Powell's fast-break layup with 8:35 left put Toronto up 104-84.
''We've got to guard better,'' Middleton said. ''Everybody on their team, I feel like they got pretty much whatever they wanted. Everything was easy.''
Antetokounmpo shot 5 for 8 in the opening frame, matching the number of made baskets he had during Game 3. However, the Bucks star went 4 for 9 the rest of the way.
Leonard and Pascal Siakam, who both played more than 50 minutes Sunday, looked sluggish in the opening half. Leonard missed the only shot he took in the second, while Siakam played fewer than three minutes in the second after picking up his third foul. Siakam had two points at halftime.
Leonard came up limping after dunking against Antetokounmpo early in the third, but remained in the game. Moments later, Siakam completed a three-point play that put Toronto up 73-60 with 8:43 left.
''We just came out in the third quarter flat,'' Antetokounmpo said.
Ilyasova missed a 3 with 3:50 remaining in the third that could have cut the deficit to four points. Powell replied with a 3 and, following miss by Malcolm Brogdon, Leonard drained a jumper to push Toronto's lead to 86-74.
TIP-INS
Bucks: Middleton missed his first attempt of the game, and then made the next eight in row. He finished 11 for 15. ... Antetokounmpo air-balled his first free-throw attempt in the first quarter. ... Brogdon shot 0 for 5 in the first half and missed seven straight before connecting late in the third. He finished 2 for 11.
Raptors: Lowry scored 12 of Toronto's first 17 points. He finished 10 for 10 at the line. ... The Raptors are 4-0 on Tuesdays in these playoffs. ... Toronto outscored Milwaukee 28-6 on bench points in the first half. The Raptors finished with a 48-23 advantage in bench scoring. ... Siakam scored seven points, his lowest total in these playoffs. ... Leonard had four of Toronto's nine steals.
PROUD PAPA
VanVleet became a father for the second time Monday with the birth of his first son, Fred Jr.
ATTENTION HOG
Even when Leonard isn't scoring 35, Lowry said the three-time All-Star still helps with spacing.
''The great thing about having him on your team is he still gets all the attention,'' Lowry said. ''That's the benefit of having a superstar like him on the team.''
MANY TONGUES
Ibaka answered post-game questions in English, French, and Spanish, and jokingly asked whether anyone wanted to talk to him in Italian or Portuguese.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:40 | Out of bounds turnover on Kyle Lowry | |||
11:24 | Khris Middleton missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
11:22 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
11:12 | Lost ball turnover on Pascal Siakam, stolen by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
11:07 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made layup | 2-0 | |
10:51 | Marc Gasol missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:48 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
10:42 | +3 | Nikola Mirotic made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 5-0 | |
10:25 | +2 | Danny Green made layup, assist by Marc Gasol | 5-2 | |
10:17 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:05 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made driving dunk, assist by Nikola Mirotic | 7-2 | |
9:55 | Personal foul on Nikola Mirotic | |||
9:46 | +3 | Kyle Lowry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Marc Gasol | 7-5 | |
9:33 | +3 | Brook Lopez made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Khris Middleton | 10-5 | |
9:16 | Defensive rebound by Eric Bledsoe | |||
9:10 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made dunk, assist by Khris Middleton | 12-5 | |
8:50 | +3 | Kyle Lowry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Marc Gasol | 12-8 | |
8:38 | Out of bounds turnover on Brook Lopez | |||
8:32 | Shooting foul on Brook Lopez | |||
8:32 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 1st of 2 free throws | 12-9 | |
8:32 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 12-10 | |
8:08 | +3 | George Hill made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 15-10 | |
7:58 | +3 | Marc Gasol made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyle Lowry | 15-13 | |
7:49 | Personal foul on Danny Green | |||
7:43 | +2 | Kyle Lowry made finger-roll layup, assist by Danny Green | 15-15 | |
7:26 | +2 | Nikola Mirotic made fade-away jump shot | 17-15 | |
7:09 | +2 | Kyle Lowry made jump shot | 17-17 | |
6:56 | +2 | Khris Middleton made jump shot, assist by Ersan Ilyasova | 19-17 | |
6:25 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made finger-roll layup | 21-17 | |
6:10 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made jump shot | 21-19 | |
5:56 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed fade-away jump shot, blocked by Kawhi Leonard | |||
5:51 | Offensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
5:46 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed jump shot | |||
5:45 | Offensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
5:45 | Shooting foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
5:45 | +1 | Ersan Ilyasova made 1st of 2 free throws | 22-19 | |
5:42 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
5:30 | +3 | Marc Gasol made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Pascal Siakam | 22-22 | |
5:04 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe made floating jump shot, assist by Brook Lopez | 24-22 | |
4:46 | Shooting foul on Ersan Ilyasova | |||
4:46 | +1 | Serge Ibaka made 1st of 2 free throws | 24-23 | |
4:46 | +1 | Serge Ibaka made 2nd of 2 free throws | 24-24 | |
4:39 | Personal foul on Norman Powell | |||
4:20 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
4:05 | Bad pass turnover on Pascal Siakam, stolen by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
3:59 | Eric Bledsoe missed driving layup | |||
3:57 | Defensive rebound by Kyle Lowry | |||
3:49 | Serge Ibaka missed hook shot | |||
3:47 | Defensive rebound by Brook Lopez | |||
3:39 | +3 | Brook Lopez made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Eric Bledsoe | 27-24 | |
3:12 | Defensive rebound by George Hill | |||
3:07 | Malcolm Brogdon missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:04 | Defensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
2:57 | Personal foul on Malcolm Brogdon | |||
2:49 | +3 | Fred VanVleet made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Pascal Siakam | 27-27 | |
2:24 | Eric Bledsoe missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:14 | Kawhi Leonard missed floating jump shot | |||
2:12 | Offensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
2:07 | Norman Powell missed finger-roll layup, blocked by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
2:07 | TOR team rebound | |||
2:02 | Kawhi Leonard missed jump shot | |||
1:59 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
1:57 | Shooting foul on Kawhi Leonard | |||
1:57 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
1:57 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made 2nd of 2 free throws | 28-27 | |
1:43 | Personal foul on Khris Middleton | |||
1:43 | Norman Powell missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
1:43 | TOR team rebound | |||
1:43 | +1 | Norman Powell made 2nd of 2 free throws | 28-28 | |
1:28 | Lost ball turnover on Pat Connaughton, stolen by Serge Ibaka | |||
1:21 | Defensive rebound by Khris Middleton | |||
1:11 | Unsportsmanlike technical foul | |||
1:11 | +1 | Khris Middleton made free throw | 29-28 | |
1:06 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made finger-roll layup, assist by Pat Connaughton | 31-28 | |
0:54 | +3 | Norman Powell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Serge Ibaka | 31-31 | |
0:40 | Malcolm Brogdon missed driving layup | |||
0:39 | Defensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
0:33 | Danny Green missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:30 | Offensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
0:24 | Personal foul on Malcolm Brogdon | |||
0:24 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard made 1st of 2 free throws | 31-32 | |
0:22 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
0:02 | Nikola Mirotic missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:00 | MIL team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:29 | Norman Powell missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Pat Connaughton | |||
11:28 | TOR team rebound | |||
11:19 | Danny Green missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
11:14 | +2 | Serge Ibaka made hook shot | 31-34 | |
11:02 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed floating jump shot | |||
11:00 | Defensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
10:53 | +2 | Danny Green made driving layup, assist by Fred VanVleet | 31-36 | |
10:53 | Violation | |||
10:31 | George Hill missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:29 | Defensive rebound by Fred VanVleet | |||
10:27 | +2 | Norman Powell made layup, assist by Fred VanVleet | 31-38 | |
10:27 | Shooting foul on Nikola Mirotic | |||
10:27 | +1 | Norman Powell made free throw | 31-39 | |
10:18 | Nikola Mirotic missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:15 | Defensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
10:03 | Norman Powell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:00 | Offensive rebound by Danny Green | |||
9:58 | Danny Green missed dunk, blocked by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
9:58 | Offensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
9:56 | +2 | Serge Ibaka made dunk | 31-41 | |
9:41 | +2 | Khris Middleton made floating jump shot | 33-41 | |
9:21 | Serge Ibaka missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:17 | Defensive rebound by Malcolm Brogdon | |||
9:11 | Malcolm Brogdon missed floating jump shot | |||
9:09 | Defensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
8:52 | +2 | Serge Ibaka made dunk, assist by Kawhi Leonard | 33-43 | |
8:43 | Personal foul on Danny Green | |||
8:29 | +3 | Khris Middleton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 36-43 | |
8:09 | +2 | Serge Ibaka made jump shot, assist by Fred VanVleet | 36-45 | |
7:52 | Brook Lopez missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:49 | Defensive rebound by Kyle Lowry | |||
7:43 | Norman Powell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:41 | Defensive rebound by Malcolm Brogdon | |||
7:38 | Shooting foul on Kyle Lowry | |||
7:38 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
7:38 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made 2nd of 2 free throws | 37-45 | |
7:28 | Personal foul on Ersan Ilyasova | |||
7:17 | Kyle Lowry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:14 | Defensive rebound by Khris Middleton | |||
7:08 | +3 | Khris Middleton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Malcolm Brogdon | 40-45 | |
6:46 | +2 | Pascal Siakam made reverse layup, assist by Kyle Lowry | 40-47 | |
6:30 | Shooting foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
6:30 | +1 | Khris Middleton made 1st of 2 free throws | 41-47 | |
6:30 | +1 | Khris Middleton made 2nd of 2 free throws | 42-47 | |
6:19 | +2 | Marc Gasol made turnaround jump shot | 42-49 | |
5:59 | Malcolm Brogdon missed reverse layup | |||
5:56 | Offensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
5:56 | +2 | Ersan Ilyasova made dunk | 44-49 | |
5:44 | Bad pass turnover on Fred VanVleet, stolen by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
5:39 | Eric Bledsoe missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:37 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
5:15 | +3 | Fred VanVleet made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Norman Powell | 44-52 | |
4:57 | Shooting foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
4:57 | Eric Bledsoe missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
4:57 | MIL team rebound | |||
4:57 | +1 | Eric Bledsoe made 2nd of 2 free throws | 45-52 | |
4:39 | Bad pass turnover on Norman Powell, stolen by George Hill | |||
4:26 | Lost ball turnover on Giannis Antetokounmpo, stolen by Marc Gasol | |||
4:22 | Kawhi Leonard missed layup, blocked by Brook Lopez | |||
4:19 | Offensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
4:18 | Lost ball turnover on Kawhi Leonard, stolen by Brook Lopez | |||
4:06 | Full timeout called | |||
3:35 | Shooting foul on Marc Gasol | |||
3:35 | MIL team rebound | |||
3:35 | +1 | Nikola Mirotic made 2nd of 2 free throws | 46-52 | |
3:25 | Kyle Lowry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:23 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
3:16 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed hook shot | |||
3:14 | Defensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
3:08 | Offensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
3:08 | Serge Ibaka missed dunk, blocked by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
3:08 | Defensive rebound by George Hill | |||
3:08 | +1 | George Hill made 1st of 2 free throws | 47-52 | |
2:55 | +2 | Serge Ibaka made jump shot, assist by Kyle Lowry | 48-54 | |
2:26 | Shooting foul on Brook Lopez | |||
2:26 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard made 1st of 2 free throws | 48-55 | |
2:26 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard made 2nd of 2 free throws | 48-56 | |
2:07 | +2 | Nikola Mirotic made hook shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 50-56 | |
1:53 | +3 | Norman Powell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyle Lowry | 50-59 | |
1:34 | Defensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
1:18 | Norman Powell missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:15 | Defensive rebound by George Hill | |||
1:04 | +3 | Khris Middleton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nikola Mirotic | 53-59 | |
0:52 | Shooting foul on George Hill | |||
0:52 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 1st of 2 free throws | 53-60 | |
0:52 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 53-61 | |
0:34 | Nikola Mirotic missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:32 | Offensive rebound by George Hill | |||
0:28 | Nikola Mirotic missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:06 | Shooting foul on Nikola Mirotic | |||
0:06 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 1st of 2 free throws | 53-62 | |
0:06 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 53-63 | |
0:03 | Shooting foul on Serge Ibaka | |||
0:03 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made 1st of 2 free throws | 54-63 | |
0:01 | Personal foul on Khris Middleton | |||
0:01 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 1st of 2 free throws | 55-64 | |
0:01 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made 2nd of 2 free throws | 55-65 | |
0:00 | Eric Bledsoe missed 3-pt. floating jump shot |