Bucks at Raptors
THE STORY: If the Toronto Raptors have any hope at all of reaching the NBA playoffs this season, the next stretch of games could go a long way toward getting them there. The Raptors kick off a pivotal seven-game homestand Wednesday night as they entertain the Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto has had one of the unfriendliest schedules in the league to open the season, playing just nine of their first 26 games at the Air Canada Centre. With Wednesday kicking off a stretch that will see Toronto play 11 of its next 13 games at home, there won't be a better time for the Raptors to make up some ground in the Eastern Conference standings. Toronto enters Wednesday's action three games back of the Bucks, who presently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. Milwaukee has just three victories in 13 road games so far this season, and has dropped three straight games following a three-game winning streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Rogers Sportsnet
ABOUT THE BUCKS (10-14): With towering center Andrew Bogut expected to be out until mid- to late-March with an ankle injury, the pressure will be on players like Brandon Jennings to pick up the slack. Jennings has been a revelation for Milwaukee so far this season, averaging 19.2 points and 5.3 assists to put himself in contention for a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Jennings averages 18.3 points, 4.5 assists and 2.7 steals in five career games against Toronto.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (8-18): Toronto has won just once in its last five games, but has looked better of late. The Raptors cruised past Washington on Friday night, then gave the Miami Heat all they could handle en route to a six-point loss on Sunday. A rematch with the Wizards yielded a three-point overtime loss, but the Raptors fought gamely despite trailing by 18 points in the first half. The homestand includes games against league powers Boston, the L.A. Lakers and San Antonio.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Milwaukee has won four straight games in the head-to-head series.
2. Raptors SG DeMar DeRozan is averaging just 14.4 points on 38.3-percent shooting, well below his numbers from a season ago (17.2 ppg, 46.7 percent).
3. Toronto has broken the 100-point barrier just once through its first nine home games.