Bucks at Raptors
The top two teams in the Eastern Conference square off for the second time this season when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. Milwaukee notched a 115-105 home victory on Nov. 2 when All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 36 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots.
The Raptors ousted the Bucks in six games in the Eastern Conference finals last season en route to winning the NBA title when the since-departed Kawhi Leonard was the team's star. Regardless, Toronto is playing like a team intent on defending its crown as it has won 17 of its last 18 games, including a 127-81 home triumph over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday that ranks as the largest winning margin (46 points) in franchise history. The NBA-best Bucks have won 17 of their past 19 games but went to overtime against the host Washington Wizards before prevailing 137-134 on Monday. "We found a way to win on the road," relieved Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after the win over Washington. "It's tough. Crowd gets into it and things kind of went against us for a while but to find a way to get a win was great."
TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, FS Wisconsin, TSN
ABOUT THE BUCKS (49-8): All-Star forward Khris Middleton scored nine of his 40 points in overtime - including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 30.2 seconds left - on Monday to finish off his second-highest output of the season. "Khris was obviously fabulous," Budenholzer told reporters. "He's always going to shoot. He's a winner, he hits big shots. He delivered." Point guard Eric Bledsoe knocked down four 3-pointers and registered 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against Washington for his first double-double since Jan. 28, also against the Wizards.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (42-15): Point guard Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 11 assists in the steamrolling of Indiana for his sixth straight double-double and he said his squad is ready for the challenge of facing the Bucks. "They're a well-coached team, they're a well-oiled machine," Lowry told reporters. "All we can do is worry about ourselves." All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam is thriving as the go-to man, tallying 21 points against the Pacers, and has made 20-of-31 field-goal attempts while averaging 29 points in the first two games since play resumed after the All-Star break.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lowry had 36 points and six assists in the November meeting.
2. Antetokounmpo recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds against the Wizards before fouling out with 1:33 left in regulation.
3. Toronto PF-C Serge Ibaka collected a season-best 15 rebounds against Indiana and also had 15 points for his 13th consecutive double-digit outing.