Raptors, Kyle Lowry look to recover from latest slow start

In the Game 1 of Bucks vs Raptors, the Bucks Antetokounmpo scored 28 points off of 13-18 shooting and he added eight rebounds with three assists. Milwaukee F Giannis Antetokounmpo finished the regular season ranked in the top 20 in the National Basketball Association in total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Three nights after a disgusting outing in Game 1, Lowry more than made up for it in Game 2, scoring 22 points, including the game-clinching 20-foot jump shot with 8.9 seconds to play, to lift Toronto to a 106-100 win over the Bucks.

The Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks meet up tonight in Game 2 of their NBA Playoff series.

Toronto went 5 for 23 from behind the 3-point line in Game 1 but almost tripled its output in Game 2, finishing 14 for 29.

The Raptors’ win, in Toronto, also squares their series 1-1, with game three in Milwaukee on Friday (AEST). Raptors F Serge Ibaka appeared in his 90th playoff game Saturday.

Turns out they know a thing or two. Toronto shot 7 for 35 in the second half, following up a 3 for 18 showing in the third by going 4 for 17 in the fourth.

Create turnovers. The Raptors had only 10 turnovers in game 1, which is an acceptable number. He said that everybody seemed ready to bring playoff intensity, and as the most playoff-savvy player on the Raptors – with more than 90 post-season games on his resume – he would know. The 42-win Bucks were not going to stop that second-round showdown. With over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Bucks outscored the Raptors 11-5 to close the quarter.

“We’ve got to figure out how to get a better rhythm, a better pace, spacing once the ball gets in the halfcourt, we’ve got to get better movement”.

“It’s getting better, better than two days ago” Ibaka said.

And now, in a black-cloud scenario they’ve faced an incredible 10 times before, the Raptors find themselves having to claw their way back. Middleton finished with 10 points and nine assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 13 field goals in Game 1, 10 of which came in the paint, many of which were fast-break points – or at least quasi-fast break points.

DeRozan broke the tie with a jumper and, after missed 3-pointers by Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova, Tucker missed a pair of free throws. Milwaukee took a big bet on an unproven, relatively unknown Greek player with the 15th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and for the past three seasons we’ve seen that gamble pay off. Wade said before practice Monday the Bulls have to give them a different defensive look with Butler at times, “if you get their offense out a little further, if it takes a little bit more time off the clock, all those things help”, Wade said.

Raptors – After playing 418 games over seven seasons, Tucker made his playoff debut.

Even with Marc Gasol going off for 25 first-half points, the Spurs still took a three-point lead into halftime.

It was more of the same seconds later, with Antetokounmpo standing under the Raptors basket, hands in the air like the Statue of Liberty awaiting the pass for a layup.

“It’s big for us, but now we have to focus on game two”, Antetokounmpo said.

The Congolese power forward, who sprained his ankle in Game 1, had doubts about playing.

It had been 34 years since the Milwaukee Bucks won a Game 1 playoff road game. The over/under total for the game is listed at 193 points.