Bucks 105, Raptors 99
BUCKS 105, RAPTORS 99: Streaking Ersan Ilyasova had 31 points and 12 rebounds to lead visiting Milwaukee past Toronto.
Drew Gooden scored 21 points and Mike Dunleavy added 19 for the Bucks, who moved within one game of the New York Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points and Jerryd Bayless added 16 for the Raptors.
Ilyasova hit 11 of 16 field-goal attempts – and all three of his 3-point shots – in his third consecutive terrific performance. He fell one point shy of the career-high 32 he tallied against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Milwaukee battled back from a 13-point, second-quarter deficit. Dunleavy’s 3-pointer with 4:43 to play gave the Bucks a 94-93 lead and Milwaukee never again trailed.
Gooden’s free throw capped a 13-4 run as the Bucks stretched their advantage to seven with 24.9 seconds left. Milwaukee was 29-of-35 from the free-throw line.
Amir Johnson and Leandro Barbosa added 12 points apiece for Toronto, which received 11 points from Andrea Bargnani.
Toronto led 40-27 three minutes into the second quarter after a 3-pointer by Linas Kleiza. Milwaukee scored the final seven points of the half to trail 56-51 at intermission.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ilyasova is averaging 29.7 points over the last three games. … Toronto point guard Jose Calderon missed the game due to an ankle injury suffered in Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. … Milwaukee was without the services of forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (knee) and guard Shaun Livingston (ankle). … Bargnani has scored 19 points in two games since missing the previous 20 with a calf injury.