Raptors at Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have been struggling down the stretch but a home game against the Toronto Raptors could be the perfect tonic to end their woes. Milwaukee looks to beat Toronto for the 10th straight time on Saturday and move closer to clinching an Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Bucks are just 4-10 over their last 14 games and have a five-game edge over the Philadelphia 76ers for the final spot with both teams having seven games remaining.
Toronto has won back-to-back games and three of its last five. The Raptors notched a 95-93 road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday to improve to 11-27 on the road. The Bucks were hoping to chase down seventh-place Boston to avoid a first-round clash with the Miami Heat but their recent setbacks have sabotaged that pursuit. Milwaukee stands 2 1/2 games behind Boston after losing to the New York Knicks on Friday.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (29-47): Forward Rudy Gay scored 26 points and guard DeMar DeRozan added 25 in the victory over Minnesota. Gay scored 34 points two games earlier and said after the win over the Timberwolves that he is finding his comfortable level with his new teammates. “We’re just learning more and more how to play with each other,” said Gay, who was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in late January. “I’m learning how to play with everybody. It’s definitely a task just trying to fit in and get to know guys and about spacing and where they want you to be.” Gay has scored 20 or more points in six of the last 10 games.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (36-39): Guard Brandon Jennings is breaking out a slump and is averaging 19 points over his last three outings after scoring 25 against the Knicks. Jennings failed to reach double digits in three of his previous five games and made just 15-of-60 shots during the dreadful stretch. He has made four 3-pointers in two of the past three games. Jennings struggled to 11 points against the Raptors on March 2 but contributed a career-best 19 assists. Forward Ersan Ilyasova also stood out in that game with 29 points and 11 assists.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Milwaukee has won both of this season’s meetings, including an overtime home win on March 2.
2. Toronto has failed to reach 100 points in 11 of its last 12 games.
3. G J.J. Redick had five 3-pointers in the loss to the Knicks, his most since the Bucks acquired him from Orlando in late February.