Raptors shut down Bucks in 2nd half to extend streak / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Credit Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 33 points as the visiting Toronto Raptors took down the Milwaukee Bucks 117-111 on Wednesday night to extend their win streak to four games.

Player of the Game EFF 29 Pascal Siakam Points 33 Accuracy 13-23 Rebounds 5 Assists 6

The 6-foot-9 forward shot 13 of 23 and also collected five rebounds and six assists to lead the Raptors over Milwaukee for the second time this season. Gary Trent Jr. and OG Anunoby chipped in 22 points, and Fred VanVleet notched 19.

Toronto outscored the Bucks 49-34 in the second half.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to a non-COVID illness, Khris Middleton paced Milwaukee with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Jordan Nwora tallied 17 points, and DeMarcus Cousins contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Jrue Holiday stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists.

Following an efficient first half, the Bucks shot just 26.8 percent from the field through the final 24 minutes of action.

Toronto owned the third quarter defensively, allowing only 11 points, the fewest the Bucks have scored in a quarter all season. Milwaukee did not make a field goal for the final seven minutes of the frame as the Raptors erased what was once a nine-point deficit with a 17-8 run.

After entering the fourth with a four-point lead, Toronto never trailed for the remainder of the game. A late 10-1 run brought the Bucks within four, but that was as close as they would get despite an opportunity to make it a one-point game with 4 seconds left.

Milwaukee matched its season-high for points in a single half this season, heading into the break with a 77-68 lead. It went 27-for-44 (61.4 percent) from the field and 13-for-21 (61.9 percent) from deep. Cousins had 15 points and Nwora added 13.

VanVleet kept Toronto within striking distance with 17 points, and Anunoby and Siakam both added 16. The Raptors hit 12 3-pointers of their own, five of which came from VanVleet.

In what was a high-scoring first quarter, both teams shot over 52 percent from the field and 3-point range. After trailing 19-9 early, Milwaukee outscored the Raptors 33-16 to close the frame.

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