Bucks 105, Raptors 99
Carlos Delfino paced a balanced attack with a season-high 25 points as the Milwaukee Bucks fended off the host Toronto Raptors 105-99 Wednesday night.
Delfino knocked down six 3-pointers for the Bucks, who halted a three-game losing skid. Drew Gooden added 20 points, Mike Dunleavy had 18 and Stephen Jackson scored 17 in the win.
DeMar DeRozan led the way with 25 points for the Raptors, who dropped the opener of a seven-game homestand. James Johnson added 15 points and Linas Kleiza poured in 12.
Milwaukee extended a seven-point halftime lead to nine before Toronto roared to life on the strength of back-to-back 3-pointers from DeRozan. The Raptors went on to tie the game at 69 before the Bucks surged ahead on a Delfino 3-pointer and carried a 76-73 lead into the fourth.
Toronto jumped into the lead on a Leandro Barbosa layup with 9:17 remaining, but Milwaukee answered with free throws to regain the lead and made it 88-83 on a Jennings 3-pointer. Gooden followed with a hook shot with 4:40 left, and Toronto didn't threaten the rest of the way.
The Raptors rode four 3-pointers to a 29-28 first-quarter advantage, their first lead after 12 minutes since Jan. 13 against Indiana. Milwaukee made quick work of the deficit, riding consecutive 3-pointers from Dunleavy to a five-point advantage midway through the second quarter.
Dunleavy finished with 16 first-half points as the Bucks led 58-51 at the break.