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Raptors Struggle in Home Game Against Bucks
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors faced a daunting challenge on Monday night as they suffered a substantial defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks, losing 128-104 in front of a crowd of 17,829 at Scotiabank Arena. This game marked the first occasion this season that the Raptors featured their starting lineup of RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and Gradey Dick all together.
Upon his return after missing three games due to illness, Barrett led his team with 25 points but expressed dissatisfaction with the overall performance. “We have to do a better job, straight up,” he stated, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board. “Tonight wasn’t about us getting used to each other. I don’t think we played hard enough, from top to bottom. We have to figure it out. There’s no excuse for what’s happening right now. We all have to be better.”
The Raptors now hold a challenging record of 8-27, having dropped 13 of their last 14 matches.
Despite Barrett’s return and Quickley’s comeback—who had previously missed 30 games—the Raptors struggled significantly, particularly in three-point shooting. The Bucks dominated this aspect, sinking 22 of 44 attempts, whereas the Raptors managed only 9 of 35.
“They’re a good three-point shooting team,” noted Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic. “As a team, they’re third best in shooting percentage in the whole league and have one of the best players (Giannis Antetokounmpo) in the game.” Rajakovic acknowledged Barrett’s decent effort against Antetokounmpo but indicated that the overall defensive closeouts were disappointing.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Impact
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a notable performance, registering a season-high 13 assists, alongside 11 points and 12 rebounds, which marked his fourth triple-double of the season and his third career triple-double against the Raptors. Although he played just 28 minutes due to knee soreness, this did not hinder his ability to influence the game significantly. The Bucks’ shooting guard, Damian Lillard, contributed greatly with 25 points, including five three-pointers, while Bobby Portis added another 20 points.
“We didn’t have our fight tonight, so that’s disappointing,” Barrett remarked about the team’s lack of determination during the game.
The Bucks swiftly took control of the match, leading 28-19 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 66-47 by halftime. They maintained a steady lead, finishing the third quarter at 99-75. This victory marked Milwaukee’s fourth win in nine games since securing the NBA Cup three weeks prior.
In a moment of recognition, the Raptors honored former player Gary Trent Jr. with a video tribute at the start of the second quarter, a gesture acknowledging his contributions during his previous three years with Toronto. Trent Jr. responded by scoring 17 points in his return.
For Antetokounmpo, the game was not without its physical challenges; he required three stitches to close a cut on his finger sustained while attempting to defend against Barrett’s fast-break dunk. Despite describing his finger as “kind of numb,” he insisted his condition was manageable.
The Raptors now face the personnel and strategic gap as they look to redefine their approach moving forward in the season.
Source
globalnews.ca