The Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 120-102 and tied the final series of the NBA Eastern Conference to two wins per side.
Point guard Kyle Lowry was the cornerstone of the Canadian quintet’s offense with 25 points.
“They (Milwaukee) had won both games at their home, we had to respond to them the same and we accomplished our mission,” Lowry said, adding that “we knew it would be difficult for Kawhi (Leonard), so we all contribute, it gives us (the victory) confidence for the future.
The series now moves to Milwaukee for Game 5 on Thursday, but the cap will have to return to Toronto later for a sixth game.
“We did not have the level to worry tonight, especially on defense. But the next game is in our house (court), it is up to us to recover. It’s going to be an incredible series between two very good teams, “said Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer.
Toronto now has a 10-6 record in these playoffs while Milwaukee does it 10-3.
The winner of this series will be measured in the NBA grand final against the defending champions Golden State Warriors, who swept the Potland Trail Blazers 4-0.
The key for the Raptors has been to neutralize the stellar Greek player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who although he scored 25 points, was very controlled in the first two quarters.
The first half was very close and with a high defensive degree, won by the locals by only one point (32-31), thanks in part to 12 points so far from point guard Lowry.
Toronto began the aggressive second quarter with a 9-0 offense, led by a triple by Norman Powell and a sink by Hispanic-Congolese Serge Ibaka to immediately increase the difference to 10 (41-31).
With a fierce Lowry the Toronto Raptors went to the intermediate break up 65-55.
Lowry, who already had 18 points up to that point, sealed the score with two free throws after receiving a strong foul from Khris Middleton.
– Big take off from Toronto –
Leonard’s shot from mid-range inside the zone again gave Toronto a comfortable 12-point lead 86-74 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Two more shots in a row by Fred VanVleet, a triple and a shot of two, gave Toronto a 104-84 lead. First time the Raptors led by 20 points, with eight minutes to play.
A 3-pointer after Leonard with 4 minutes left was almost decisive as the Raptors’ lead increased to 19 points (112-93).
Ibaka ends up scoring after a balloon in the paint area and put 118-95 with two and a half minutes on the clock, which indicated that the series would go to six games.
Lowry was escorted in the attack by Kawhi Leonard with 19 points, Spaniard Marc Gasol with 17, Pawell with 18, Ibaka with 17 and 13 rebounds and VanVleet with 13 and 3-3 in triples, the last three coming off the bench.
For the Bucks the best was Middleton with 30 points, Antetokounmpo with 25 and 10 sacks and Nikola Miroti with 11 cards.
The second unit of the Raptors was far superior to that of the Bucks since their substitutes contributed 48 points to the victory for only 28 Milwaukee.
The Bucks finished the regular season with the best record in the 2018-2019 Championship and qualified for their first Eastern Conference final since 2001. AFP