Raptors 90, Bucks 83
TORONTO -- Guard DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-83 on Friday.
It was the third win in a row for the Raptors (15-9) and the second loss in a row for the Bucks (9-15).
After trailing by as many as 19 points, the Bucks cut the lead to four points in the fourth quarter.
But Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry made a two-foot, driving layup with 24.4 seconds to play to get the lead to seven points and put the game away.
Lowry finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Guard Cory Joseph added 13 points for the Raptors and forward Luis Scola added 12.
Guard Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 26 points. Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo added 15 for Milwaukee while center Greg Monroe had 13 points with seven rebounds and forward Jabari Parker chipped in with 10 points.
DeRozan scored 10 points in the first quarter to give the Raptors a 24-17 lead. Antetokounmpo had six first-quarter points for Milwaukee.
The Raptors took a 14-point with 2:43 to play in the second quarter on a driving layup by DeRozan. Forward Patrick Patterson increased the lead to 18 with a 3-pointer with 44.3 seconds remaining.
The Raptors led 49-31 at halftime, holding the Bucks to 28.6 percent shooting from the field while shooting 45 percent themselves. DeRozan had 16 points at the half.
The Bucks whittled the lead to 13 early in the third but Lowry's running layup had the Raptors lead up to 19 with 5:22 left in the quarter.
Milwaukee trimmed the lead to 11 with 2:20 to play in the third on a step-back jumper by Middleton. The Raptors led 70-60 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bucks crept to within seven points early in the fourth but when forward James Johnson made a cutting layup with 8:57 to play the Raptors lead was 76-65.
Middleton hit a pair of free throws and Toronto's lead was down six points. After a Toronto miss, Antetokounmpo's dunk cut the lead to four. Joseph's 3-pointer put Toronto ahead by seven.
DeRozan made a pair of foul shots with 3:15 left and Toronto le by nine points.
Following a Toronto turnover, Bucks guard O.J. Mayo hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to four points but DeRozan's jumper had the lead at six.
Middleton made one of two free throws with 1:25 to play to cut the lead to five.
NOTES: Raptors C Lucas Nogueira (sprained left ankle) practiced Thursday after missing two games and returned Friday against the Bucks. ... The Raptors continued without F DeMarre Carroll (right knee contusion) and C Jonas Valanciunas (left hand fracture). ... The Bucks were still without G Jerryd Bayless (sprained left ankle) and G Greivis Vasquez (sore right ankle). Both are former Raptors. ... In the Bucks' first visit to Toronto this season, they lost 106-87 on Nov. 1. The next two games between the teams will be played Dec. 26 and March 15 in Milwaukee. ... The Raptors end a six-game homestand on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks return home Saturday to face the Golden State Warriors.