After three defeats in a row, the Raptors were starting to find their time running out. The Canadians corrected the situation by taking the scalp of one of the biggest teams in the Eastern Conference. A very authoritarian victory over the Bucks (130-111), marked by the vista of Dennis Schroder (24 points and 11 rebounds) who won his duel with Damian Lillard (15 points and 6 assists).
“ Sometimes it’s good to be humbled because it forces you to focus on the right things consistently », philosophized Adrian Griffin after the meeting. “Humiliated”, the word fits well with the level of performance of his team, overwhelmed in every sense of the word and which never led in this game.
Taking advantage of a sometimes non-existent defensive withdrawal, the Raptors, for example, scored 26 points on the counter-attack, for 5 conceded. Unlike an unimaginative Bucks offense, the home side played with rhythm and fluidity for most of the evening. This is evidenced by the 35 assists generated, a record this season for them (compared to only 19 for the Bucks).
Schroder dominates Lillard
This column was mainly supplied by Dennis Schroder, always looking for the extra pass and author of a little marvel of an over-the-shoulder offering towards his pivot Jakob Poeltl, one of the three players of the team in triple-double. Discreet in scoring in a one-sided first period (66-44), the leader then allowed himself to attack Damian Lillard on the drive. With success.
The Canadian starters outrageously dominated their Bucks counterparts, like OG Anunoby who didn’t miss a shot, while Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes were omnipresent in all sectors. Skillful from afar, they also did great damage inside, an area where the Bucks were also outclassed (66-40), like the rebounding battle (50-29).
It is impossible in this context to seriously return to the score. Even if at the start of the fourth quarter, the visitors, trailing by up to 27 points, could still hope to get a run (95-79), which did not happen.
“ It’s definitely frustrating. », Qualified Damian Lillard assuring that the Bucks were still trying to get to know each other. “ We need nights like this to realize we need to improve », said Giannis Antetokounmpo, author of a very discreet 16-point outing.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The apathetic Bucks. One action sums up the low level of visitor involvement well. In the second quarter, Gary Trent Jr. easily opened up access to the circle for the floater. A missed shot but while the Raptors guard had fallen on the floor, he managed to capture the offensive rebound in front of several Bucks before serving Dennis Schroder at 3-points to bring the gap back above 20 units. The battle of the famous “50-50 balls” was largely won by the Canadians.
– Adrian Griffin also back. After Nick Nurse a few days ago, the new Bucks coach made his first return to Scotiabank Arena. The rookie coach was an assistant there between 2018 and 2023, a sequence during which the Raptors won the title (2019). He had previously officiated for several Eastern teams (Bucks, Bulls, Magic) as well as the Thunder.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
