Bucks at Raptors
The Milwaukee Bucks had their way with the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series behind superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and a standout bench. The Toronto Raptors will try to get back into the series at home when they host Game 3 on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo sandwiched a block between a pair of dunks to start Game 2 and finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds as Milwaukee jumped out to a big lead and cruised to a 125-103 victory. "To script those first three possessions - and the blocked shot, to me, is the one that stands out," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "I think when Giannis is active and protecting the paint, protecting the rim - he plays so hard. He lays it all on the line all the time. It was a great start for us. I think everybody fed off of Giannis and how he started the game." The Raptors fell behind by 25 at the half and never got back into the game but coach Nick Nurse isn't looking to make any huge changes heading into Game 3. "We just weren't quite physical enough," Nurse told reporters after Game 2. "We weren't getting our screens set good enough. We weren't getting them off their screens good enough as well. We're going to have to be better or they're just going to look bigger and stronger than we are, and I don't necessarily think that's the case. We've got to play a little tougher."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE BUCKS: Ersan Ilyasova (17 points), Malcolm Brogdon (14) and George Hill (13) combined to go 17-of-29 from the floor off the bench in Game 2, with each of the three logging more than 20 minutes. "We have a great group of coaches who trust us, and I think it's all about chemistry," Ilyasova told reporters. "When we go to locker room, even when we lose the game, everybody stays positive. It's just we're all about the next game. I think for us it's big time when we go to the playoffs. The teams always make adjustments -- obviously with Giannis, double teams, and he sacrifices himself and finds the open guys. With the bench, we all realize the same way. When we set the tone, we have to come out with the same energy." Power forward Nikola Mirotic added 15 points in Game 2 - his highest output of the postseason.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS: Toronto center Marc Gasol struggled to two points on 1-of-9 shooting in Game 2 and placed the blame for the loss on himself. "I played really bad, and that set the tone," Gasol told reporters. "...The beginning set us in a real bad spot, and we couldn't get a grip on the game early on and I take full responsibility for that. We've got another chance to bounce back on Sunday, and that's all that matters right now." All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry scored 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Game 1 but slumped to 15 on 4-of-13 in Game 2.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Raptors SF Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in each of the first two games.
2. Bucks C Brook Lopez went off for 29 points in Game 1 but slumped to six points on 1-of-7 shooting in Game 2.
3. Milwaukee is 4-0 on the road in the postseason.