At halftime of the Toronto Raptors versus Milwaukee Bucks 2017 NBA Playoffs first round series, everything was coming up Toronto, outside of a few flashes from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Raptors even held a 25 point lead in the second half but the Milwaukee Bucks came all the way back to take a fourth-quarter lead. But the Raptors, a team with a recent history of playoff foils, ended up coming out on top with their 92-89 victory. It’s the first time in franchise history that Toronto won a series in less than the maximum games allowed after winning on the road for the second time in the series. No game seven in the ‘6ix’, just a few days rest.
DeMar DeRozan led the way for Toronto, scoring 32 points on the night shooting 12-24 from the field in 40 minutes of action. Cory Joseph scored five points during a 9-0 run in the final 2 minutes to answer a blistering rally by the Bucks in front of an electric crowd.
Cory Joseph with a HUGEEE 3 to give the Raptors a three-point lead..#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/bByr9PaMT5
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 28, 2017
The Raptors led 71-46 with five mins left in the third quarter and many essentially perceived the Bucks chances to be dead in the water. But little did the doubters know, Milwaukee was ready to fight back into the game. The Bucks went on a 34-7 run with some big shots by Jason Terry, Khris Middleton and of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo. They eventually took lead with 3:05 left in the fourth quarter. The home crowd had a louder eruption every time another big shot dropped.
Middleton hits a big 3 AND-1 as the Bucks go on a 34-7 run to get a two-point lead.. WOW#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/0wIO9geHcW
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 28, 2017
JASON TERRY
THE JET STILL FLYS!
???#FeartheDeer pic.twitter.com/Npnbz9wVAg
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 28, 2017
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points on 13-23 shots in 47 minutes played while also grabbing nine rebounds. Khris Middleton dropped 19 points in 42 minutes while Matthew Dellavedova came off the bench for 34 minutes of action and scored 12 points.
The Raptors roared back in the final minutes for a 14-9 run to finish the game. A big part of the Raptors comeback actually came thanks to the Bucks lack of free throw success. Milwaukee went 9 of 18 from the free-throw line to end the game and it all but finished off their season.
The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers will face off in the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs and game 1 will be on Monday in Cleveland at 7 PM ET on TNT.
