Raptors at Bucks
The Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks are the last two remaining unbeaten teams in the NBA, but only one will stay that way after Monday. The Bucks host the Raptors on Monday in a showdown of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto was expected to be near the top of the East, but Milwaukee is more of a surprise, and the Bucks are trying to downplay the significance of the matchup. "You can fall into that trap (of putting too much importance on one game)," Milwaukee swingman Khris Middleton told reporters. "It's a big game, definitely. ... It could be a statement win, but at the same time, it's still one game early in the season. Teams are still trying to find themselves. We're still trying to learn ourselves too. But it's been a great start to the season – 6-0 so far, 7-0 would be great." Toronto's 6-0 start marks a franchise best, and the team is having a lot of fun. “Well, winning’s fun, right?” first-year coach Nick Nurse told reporters. "That helps. But I also think that this is basketball and we don’t have to be miserable every day going to work. We all understand we’ve got unbelievable owners, organization, fans, players. We’ve got a little history of winning right now going. You better enjoy that. You better make that some fun."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (6-0): Toronto is building solid chemistry between the long-tenured players like Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas and newcomers Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, who came over from the San Antonio Spurs in the trade that sent All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan away. Leonard is averaging a team-high 26.6 points and eight rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the floor and Green is firing away at 45 percent from 3-point range. Lowry is averaging 10.3 assists and shooting 57.5 percent from the floor, including 52.8 percent from 3-point range, for a Raptors offense that ranks second in the East in team field-goal percentage (49.5).
ABOUT THE BUCKS (6-0): Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 25 points, 14.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists but was limited to 19 minutes in a 113-91 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Antetokounmpo took an elbow to the head in the first quarter and cleared concussion tests but sat out the entire third quarter while being checked out by team trainers. "I think we just wanted to be extra cautious," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "Make sure everything was OK and kind of give him an extra look. Everything is good."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Toronto PG Fred VanVleet (toe) sat out the last two games and is questionable for Monday.
2. Middleton is averaging 21.8 points while shooting 57.1 percent from 3-point range.
3. The Raptors took two of the three meetings last season, but Milwaukee earned a 122-119 overtime victory at Toronto on Feb. 23 behind 26 points from Antetokounmpo.