Raptors Win Three In a Row, Beat Bucks in Milwaukee, 105-99

When Pascal Siakam dunked with 16.3 seconds left in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, Fiserv Forum was awfully quiet. And there was a good reason for that. The guests from Toronto had a five-point lead and were near a huge win, the one who could decide the series in a couple of days.

Eventually, the Raptors recorded 105-99 victory and turned the table in the series. The No.2 seed in the East now leads 3-2, although they lost the opening two matches.

But tonight’s contest didn’t start very well for the guests. They were down 18-4 with less than five minutes into the match. At the end of the first, the Bucks had a 10-point lead. However, a strong start of the Raptors in the second sequence erased that gap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwGfeMrPYmw

A 16-2 run pushed Toronto in front, 38-34 and the game took a different course from the one expected at the beginning.

Milwaukee would bounce back after the break, and reach a 12-point advantage in the third, 63-51, but even that wouldn’t be enough for them to close this match.

Fantastic Kawhi Leonard scored 15 points in the final period, and the Raptors outscore hosts 33-24 in that part of the clash.

“This is what I work out for in the summer. I’m just trying to win. It’s a matter of me being aggressive and don’t shy away from anything.”

Kawhi had 35 points, 9 assists, 7 boards, and 2 steals. But his performance wasn’t anything unusual. Who did surprise the Bucks was Fred VanVleet by dropping 21 points, all of them from behind the three-point line.

It was one of the best games in career for the 25-year old point guard. Besides them two, Pascal Siakam scored 14 and added 13 rebounds, while Kyle Lowry had another good performance.

The starting playmaker ended the night with 17 buckets, 7 boards, and 6 assists. He became the leading Raptor in playoff efficiency with 1,126 points, jumping over DeMar DeRozan who had 1,117 points.

On the other side, Giannis scored 24 points, and had a minor ankle injury. Before the game started, the news broke out that the became All NBA first-team unanimously. But that didn’t matter last night. Giannis would end the game with 6 boards and assists each.

The Greek international said after the match that his team is not going to surrender and that he believes Game 7 in Milwaukee is going to decide the winner of the series.

“We’re not gonna fold,” Antetokounmpo vowed, cutting off the question. “We’re the best team in the league. We’re gonna go in, give it everything we got. We can’t fold. We’re gonna come back to Milwaukee being pissed.”

Eric Bledsoe finally showed a little piece of his offensive qualities, delivering 20 points, and also had 8 boards. Malcolm Brogdon was superb scoring 18 buckets along with 11 boards and 6 assists, but none of this helped the Bucks to protect the home court.

Brook Lopez added 16 and George Hill 12 off the bench.

The Bucks had a solid shooting percentage, 38 for 84 which is 45.2%, but in the decisive moments, the Raptors were defending much better. The guests had a lower shooting percentage, 31 of 84, 36.9%, but recorded more threes and free throws. Again, the Bucks won the aerial battle, but the overall win went in a different direction, precisely because of a good defense in the essential moments.

Kyle Lowry stated that it is because of excellent communication the Raptors have in their game.

“The rotation comes from wherever,” said Lowry. “We talk and communicate — ‘Go, go, go.’ Marc will say, ‘K-Low, you go.’ Kawhi, Danny, Freddie. Everyone is talking.”

The series is now going to Toronto. The North expects to win this one and finally reach the finals where Golden State already awaits the better from this clash.

Game 6 is set for this Saturday, 8:30 p.m. local time.