Raptors 87, Bucks 76: Toronto bounces back to even series
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 best-of-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.
D'AMATO: Bucks' turn to clean up mess
RELATED: Antetokounmpo held in check
BOX SCORE: Raptors 87, Bucks 76
NOTES: Kidd's game plan is in the cards
NBA: Scoreboard | Saturday's playoff recaps
"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 three-point 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."
THREE TAKEAWAYS
1. Raptors coach Dwane Casey opted to make a serious lineup switch for Game 4, inserting small forward Norman Powell and taking center Jonas Valanciunas out. That effectively made Serge Ibaka the center. Powell’s defense made a difference as Toronto limited the Bucks to 35.7% shooting (15 of 42) in the first half. "It gave us another guy to attack the basket," DeMar DeRozan said of Powell. "Defensively, we had another strong body out there to guard (Khris) Middleton and be able to switch. You potentially had five guys out there that could switch. That gave us a whole different look. He stepped up and did what he is supposed to do."
2. The Bucks struggled at the free-throw line in the third quarter, hitting just 3 of 7 attempts. Milwaukee was 11 of 18 at the line while Toronto hit 16 of 17.
3. Milwaukee grabbed five offensive rebounds on one possession before Greg Monroe finally scored to cut the Bucks' deficit to 66-60 with 8:34 remaining. But that play was symbolic of the Bucks' woes because they were struggling so hard to score. "The ball wasn't moving," Monroe said. "We're at our best when we're playing at a faster pace than tonight. The ball was sticking. We have to go through some film. But one thing I know - we have to move the ball more."
UP NEXT
What: Game 5, Eastern Conference first-round series (Series tied, 2-2).
When: 6 p.m. Monday.
Where: Air Canada Centre.
Broadcasts: NBA TV and Fox Sports Wisconsin.
BUCKS-RAPTORS SCHEDULE (All times Central)
Eastern Conference first-round series (best of seven)
Saturday, April 15 - Bucks 97, Raptors 83
Tuesday, April 18 - Raptors 106, Bucks 100 (Series tied at 1-1)
Thursday, April 20 - Bucks 104, Raptors 77 (Bucks lead series, 2-1)
Saturday, April 22 - Raptors 87, Bucks 76 (Series tied at 2-2)
Monday, April 24 - Game 5 at Toronto, 6 p.m. (NBA TV, FSW)
Thursday, April 27 - Game 6 at Milwaukee, TBD (FSW), if necessary
Saturday, April 29 - Game 7 at Toronto, TBD (TNT, FSW), if necessary
