The Toronto Raptors climbed into the Eastern Conference Finals with a 118-112 double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The series is now 2-1, Bucks.
After losing the first two games in overwhelming fashion, Warriors Wire predicted Toronto’s season would come to a quick end if profound adjustments were not made for Game 3:
If this keeps up, Games 3 and 4 will come and go in defeat. Kawhi Leonard & Co. will find themselves drowning sorrow and regret in bowls of poutine. The Bucks, meanwhile, will prepare for the 2019 NBA Finals.
The Raptors don’t have to break out the poutine bowls just yet. But the fact that it took two overtime periods to clinch a six-point victory does not bode well for their long-term prospects in this series or beyond. For context, the Bucks defeated the Raptors by eight points in Game 1 and by 22 points in Game 2 — no overtime required.
The Raptors got the win behind Kawhi Leonard’s near double-double: 36 points and nine rebounds; he also had five assists. But the Toronto star turned his defense up and that had the biggest impact on the outcome of the game. In addition to two steals, Leonard blocked a Giannis Antetokounmpo layup attempt with just under two minutes left in the first overtime period.
In the loss, Milwaukee’s George Hill and Malcolm Brogdon combined for an impressive 44 points off the bench and Antetokounmpo put on a monster defensive showing with 23 rebounds. He also scored 12 points to make it a double-double, dished seven assists, blocked four shots and got one steal. The low points of his game, though, was turnovers and personal fouls — he finished with eight and six, respectively.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors have the chance to claim a 4-0 series sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers tonight.
Game 4 tips off Monday, May 20, at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
