After trailing most of Game 1, including an 11-point deficit after the first quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks surged back with a 32-17 fourth to clinch the 108-100 win. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to make it a double-double, while center Brook Lopez led the way for Milwaukee with a career playoff high of 29 points.
In the loss, Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 31 points for the Toronto Raptors and he was just a rebound shy of a double-double. Toronoto’s floor general, Kyle Lowry, contributed 30 points and eight rebounds.
Milwaukee’s regular-season scoring average is 118.1, so the Raptors should be commended for holding the Bucks to 100 points. But the loss mostly should be taken as a lesson in how difficult it can be to beat the Bucks and a warning of what’s to come.
To have a chance to take Game 2, the Raptors will need to shore up their defensive efforts. A combined 46 rebounds for Toronto looks great on its face until you compare those boards to Milwaukee’s 60.
Before the Eastern Conference teams face off again on Friday, the Western Conference Finals continue tonight: Thursday, May 16, at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
The Portland Trail Blazers will try to recover from an overwhelming Game 1 loss, while the Golden State Warriors hope to keep rolling right over their spirits for a 2-0 series lead.
