INJURY REPORTS AT 1:30 P.M. TUESDAY
Milwaukee Bucks Korver, Kyle Out Injury/Illness – Back; Soreness
Lopez, Brook Probable Injury/Illness – Back; Soreness
Mason, Frank Out G League – Two-Way
Reynolds, Cameron Out G League – Two-Way
Wilson, D.J. Out G League – On Assignment
Toronto Raptors Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Tightness
Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain
McCaw, Patrick Questionable Injury/Illness – Illness; Flu-like symptoms
Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Finger; Fourth – metacarpal; fracture
Watson, Paul Out G League – Two-Way
RAPTORS NOTES • The Toronto Raptors continue a four-game homestand (Feb. 21-28) Tuesday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena. In the 2019 postseason, Toronto defeated Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference Finals (4-2) en route to their first NBA Championship. Tuesday night marks the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Bucks won the first matchup, 115-105, in early November. Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with a season-high 36 points in the loss.
• Toronto has won 17 of its last 18 games, including nine in a row at Scotiabank Arena, which ties the team’s longest home winning streak of the season. The Raptors opened the 2019-20 season with nine straight victories at home. Over the past nine home games, Toronto is averaging 125.1 points and shooting .519 (415-800) from the field, including .413 (138-334) from three-point distance.
• The Raptors defeated the Pacers 127-81 on Sunday night. The 46-point margin of victory was the largest in franchise history, eclipsing a 44-point win over Atlanta on Dec. 3, 2016. Indiana set opponent season lows for both points in a game and points in a half with just 32 at halftime.
• Kyle Lowry recorded his career-high sixth straight double-double (Feb. 5-23) with 16 points and 11 assists Sunday against the Pacers. Over his last six games, Lowry is averaging 19.3 points and 10.8 assists. Lowry now has 13 double-doubles this season – second most on the team behind Serge Ibaka (16).
• The Raptors lead the NBA in fast-break points per game (19.2). Toronto has outscored its opponent on the fast-break in each of the last 11 games (Jan. 28 – Feb. 23). The Raptors are a +160 (277-to-117) in fastbreak scoring differential during this stretch.
• Terence Davis scored in double figures for the second straight game off the bench with 13 points in 24 minutes Sunday vs. Indiana. Davis has now logged 1,003 minutes this season and becomes just the fourth undrafted rookie to play at least 1,000 minutes in a season for Toronto; along with Jose Calderon (1,487 in 2005–06), Jorge Garbajosa (1,909 in 2006–07) and Jamario Moon (2,166 in 2007–08).
• Toronto’s 42-15 record after 57 games is the best in franchise history. The Raptors have won at least 51 games each of the last four seasons after not reaching 50 wins in any of their first 20 seasons in the NBA.
• Pascal Siakam is averaging career highs of 23.7 points and 7.5 rebounds through 46 games this season. Only two players in Raptors history have finished a season averaging at least 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds: Chris Bosh in 2009–10 (24.0, 10.8) and Kawhi Leonard in 2018–19 (26.6, 7.3).
• Nick Nurse earned his 100th win as a head coach in the NBA on Sunday. Nurse is now 100-39 as a head coach. The only active head coach to record his 100th win in fewer than 140 games is Steve Kerr, who set an NBA record by earning 100 wins in only 117 games as head coach with the Golden State Warriors.
• Toronto held the Pacers to .326 (31-95) shooting on Sunday, including .242 (8-33) from three-point range. The Raptors currently lead the NBA in opponent three-point percentage (.335). Toronto’s opponent has now missed at least 20 three-point attempts in each of the last 26 games. It’s the longest streak in the NBA of an opponent missing 20 or more shots from behind the arc since the three-point era began in 1979–80. PROBABLE STARTERS
G – OG ANUNOBY #3
MIN: 29.3 REB: 5.4 AST: 1.5 STL: 1.2 TO: 1.3 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 10.2
• Totaled seven points, four rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes Feb. 23 vs. Indiana. • Toronto is 22-4 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points. • Averaging a career-high 10.2 points and shooting a career-best .499 from the field this season.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 34.9 REB: 7.5 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.4 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 23.7
• Posted a game-high 21 points, two rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of action Feb. 23 vs. Indiana • Ranks 15th in the NBA in scoring (23.7); averaging 24.0 points over the last seven games (Feb. 5-23). • Has scored 30+ points 14 times; had five 30-point performances in 80 games played last season.
C – SERGE IBAKA #9
MIN: 27.1 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.5 TO: 2.0 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 16.1
• Recorded his 16th double-double with 15 points and a season-high 15 rebounds Feb. 23 vs. Indiana. • Averaging 18.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 31.3 minutes in 23 games as a starter this season. • First player in NBA history with 500+ three-point field goals and 1,500+ blocks.
G – KYLE LOWRY #7
MIN: 36.3 REB: 4.8 AST: 7.7 STL: 1.3 TO: 3.0 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.4
• Posted his sixth straight double-double with 16 points and a game-high 11 assists Feb. 23 vs. Indiana. • Tied Morris Peterson (542) for second on the Raptors’ all-time games played list against the Pacers. • Tied for seventh in the NBA in assists per game (7.7); has dished out 10+ assists 13 times.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 35.8 REB: 3.8 AST: 6.7 STL: 1.9 TO: 2.3 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 17.7
• Totaled eight points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes Feb. 23 vs. Indiana. • Ranks fourth in the NBA in steals per game (1.91); has registered multiple steals in 24 games. • Has more assists than turnovers in all but two games – leads the team with a 2.95 assists to turnover ratio.
INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; tightness) – Out Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – Out Patrick McCaw (Flu-like symptoms) – Questionable Norman Powell (Left hand; fourth metacarpal – fracture) – Out
TONIGHT’S GAME DETAILS Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks Date: Tuesday, February 25 Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: TSN / TNT Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. MILWAUKEE
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2019-20
0-1 0-0 0-1
ALL-TIME
38-52 20-25 18-27
STREAKS Lost 2 Lost 3 Lost 1
LAST WIN: January 5, 2019 (123-116)
LAST HOME WIN: January 5, 2018 (129-110)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +42, November 21, 2014
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -27, November 6, 2007
LAST TIME VS. MILWAUKEE
GAME 6 – NOVEMBER 2, 2019 MILWAUKEE 115, TORONTO 105
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 115-105 victory over the Raptors … Eric Bledsoe added 14 points and five assists, and Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez each had 11 points for the Bucks … Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 36 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range … Pascal Siakam added 16 for Toronto, which had won four of its first five this season … Marc Gasol grabbed 12 rebounds and had 10 points … The Raptors, who had trailed by as much as 26 points, pulled within four three times in the fourth quarter, the last on a 3-pointer from Fred VanVleet that made it 107-103 with 2:24 to play … However, George Hill pushed the lead to six with two free throws, Antetokounmpo tacked on two more baskets and Bledsoe added one for the final margin … Lowry’s 17 points and 12 from Siakam pulled Toronto to 95 -90 heading into the fourth quarter … The Bucks led 36-17 at the end of the first quarter and 66-50 at the half behind 17 points from Antetokounmpo … The Raptors shot just 13 of 41 from the floor in the opening half.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 17 33 40 15 105
MILWAUKEE 36 30 29 20 115
NEXT GAME DETAILS Opponent: Charlotte Hornets Date: Friday, February 28 Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: Sportsnet One Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto
SERIES RECAP VS. CHARLOTTE
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2019-20 2-0 1-0 1-0
ALL-TIME 38-44 24-18 14-26
STREAKS Won 2 Won 1 Won 1
LAST WIN: January 8, 2020 (112-110 OT)
LAST HOME WIN: November 18, 2019 (132-96)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +36, November 18, 2019
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -36, November 20, 2000
LAST TIME VS. CHARLOTTE
GAME 38 – JANUARY 8, 2020 TORONTO 112, CHARLOTTE 110
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Serge Ibaka made two free throws with 5.1 seconds left in overtime and finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the banged-up Toronto Raptors escaped with a 112-110 overtime win over Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night… Terence Davis also had 23 points and 11 boards, OG Anunoby added 19 points and Kyle Lowry had 15 points and nine assists… Patrick McCaw added 13 points and 11 assists as the Raptors avoided taking losses on back-to-back nights for the first time since Dec. 26-27, 2017… Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 27 points, but his 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime fell short… Miles Bridges added 26 points and nine rebounds for Charlotte, and P.J. Washington had 12 points and 12 rebounds… After leading by as many as 12 in the third quarter, the Raptors fell behind by 10 in the fourth quarter when Rozier hit a long 3 from the left wing with 5:25 remaining… The Raptors battled back to take the lead 100-99 with 17 seconds left when Lowry drove the lane and scored on a left-handed layup in traffic… On the Hornets’ ensuing inbounds pass, Ibaka was called for a foul away from the ball after grabbing Washington’s jersey… Rozier sank the automatic free throw to tie it, but Devonte Graham’s runner at the buzzer was short, sending the game into overtime… Davis, making his first NBA start, had two 3-pointers in overtime for the Raptors.
1 2 3 4 OT TOT
TORONTO 29 31 22 18 12 112
CHARLOTTE 31 24 26 19 10 110
GAME 57 – FEBRUARY 23, 2020 TORONTO 127 , INDIANA 81
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 11 assists as the Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 127-81 in Toronto’s most lopsided victory in franchise history … Lowry stretched his career-best streak of consecutive double-doubles to six games in the Raptors’ ninth straight victory at Scotiabank Arena … It was also the Raptors’ 17 win in their last 18 outings … Pascal Siakam added 21 points while Serge Ibaka chipped in with 15 points and 15 rebounds … Matt Thomas finished with 17 points, Terence Davis had 13, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 12, and Chris Boucher hauled down 11 rebounds to go with nine points for Toronto … Domantas Sabonis and Aaron Holiday had 14 points apiece to top the Pacers, who were missing Victor Oladipo … The Raptors held the Pacers to four baskets on 17.4 per cent shooting in the first quarter … By the time Fred VanVleet launched a running three-pointer with four seconds left in the first half, the Raptors were up by 31 points … The Pacers’ 32 points at halftime were a season-low for a half by an opponent … Toronto took an 85-55 lead into the fourth, and when Hollis-Jefferson connected on a bucket with 8:19 to play, the Raptors were up by 40 … Back-to-back three -pointers by Thomas put the Raptors up by 46 points with 2:17 to play … Toronto shot 51.1 per cent on the night, while holding Indiana to 32.6 per cent and 24.2 per cent from three-point range.
1 2 3 4 TOT
INDIANA 12 20 23 26 81
TORONTO 34 29 22 42 127
GAME 56 – FEBRUARY 21, 2020 TORONTO 118 , PHOENIX 101
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam had 37 points and 12 rebounds and Toronto beat Phoenix 118-101 on Friday night, its fifth straight victory over the Suns … Serge Ibaka scored 16 points, Fred VanVleet and Terence Davis each had 14, Kyle Lowry had 13 points and 10 assists and OG Anunoby added 12 points for the defending NBA champion Raptors … Siakam connected on 12 of 19 attempts, going 5 of 9 from 3-point range … He scored 17 points in the first quarter as Toronto built a big first-half lead and didn’t let it go … Siakam’s five 3-pointers were just one fewer than the six the Suns managed on 34 attempts … Phoenix shot 17.6% from long range, its lowest mark of the season … No Suns player made more than one shot from distance … Booker scored 21 points and DeAndre Ayton had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix … The Suns lost for the seventh time in nine games and dropped their fifth straight on the road … Phoenix trailed 93-78 through three quarters, but the Suns cut the gap to six points, 96-90 on a basket by Ayton with 8:08 left to play … Rondae HollisJefferson made a pair from the line, and VanVleet and Siakam both scored to put the Raptors up 102-90 with 6:58 remaining … Booker missed a 3 with 4:45 left that would have made it a four-point game … Anunoby scored on a dunk and, after another missed 3 by the Suns, Ibaka banked home a 3-pointer to restore Toronto’s 12-point cushion.
1 2 3 4 TOT
PHOENIX 23 20 35 23 101
TORONTO 31 36 26 25 118
BUCKS PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP WITH 2019-20 STATS
22 F – Khris Middleton 6-7 225 Texas A&M/USA 8th season
G GS PPG RPG APG MPG FG% 3FG% FT%
50 47 21.1 6.2 4.2 29.9 .509 .437 .909
34 F – Giannis Antetokounmpo 6-11 240 Filathlitikos/Greece 7th season
G GS PPG RPG APG MPG FG% 3FG% FT%
51 51 29.9 13.6 5.8 30.7 .554 .311 .617
11 C – Brook Lopez 7-0 282 Stanford/USA 12th season
G GS PPG RPG APG MPG FG% 3FG% FT%
54 53 10.7 4.5 1.7 26.7 .428 .294 .835
9 G – Wesley Matthews 6-4 221 Marquette/USA 11th season
G GS PPG RPG APG MPG FG% 3FG% FT%
54 54 7.5 2.4 1.5 24.6 .409 .378 .750
6 G – Eric Bledsoe 6-1 214 Kentucky/USA 10th season
G GS PPG RPG APG MPG FG% 3FG% FT%
49 49 15.8 4.8 5.5 27.2 .485 .354 .829
Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer – 2nd season with Milwaukee (109-30); 7th season overall (322-227)
BUCK SHOTS
• In just their second overtime game of the season, the Bucks improved to 49-8 with a 137-134 win over the Wizards on Monday. Milwaukee, which has now won 17 of its last 19 games, is one of only seven teams in NBA history to win 49 of its first 57 games.
• The Bucks are finishing their eighth of 11 back-to-backs of the season tonight (second roadroad back-to-back). Milwaukee, which has road back-to-backs in each of the next three weeks, is a perfect 7-0 in the second game of a back-to-back so far this season.
• By scoring 137 points on Monday, the Bucks extended their regular-season streak of scoring 100 points to 81 games, and their streak of scoring 110 points to 18 games Their 81-game streak of scoring 100 points is now tied for the third-longest in NBA history while their 18 consecutive games scoring 110 points remains the longest streak in the NBA this season.
• As a team, the Bucks shot 57.7% from the field in their win over the Wizards on Monday (2ndhighest FG% of the season). Milwaukee has outshot its opponent in 49 of its 57 games this season (most times in the NBA) and is 47-2 when doing so.
• Khris Middleton led the Bucks against the Wizards, tallying his second 40-point game of the season (had only 1 40-point game in his career before this season). Middleton has scored at least 20 points in 10 of his last 11 games and is averaging 27.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 53.7% from the field and 48.7% from three during this 11-game stretch.
• Eric Bledsoe picked up his second double-double of the season on Monday as he scored 23 points (7-11 FG, 4-6 3FG) and dished out a season-high-tying 10 assists. In his time with the Bucks, Bledsoe has produced 13 double-doubles with the Bucks owning an 11-2 record in those games.
RECENT GAMES
Bucks at Wizards – Monday, Feb. 24 – Capital One Arena – Washington, D.C. W, 137-134 (OT) – In only the second overtime game of the season for the Bucks, they were able to pull out a 137-134 win over the Wizards in Washington, D.C. on Monday night. Despite Milwaukee leading for nearly the entirety of the first three quarters of play, and by as many as 20 points in the second half, the Wizards were able to the tie the game at 121 with 1:23 left in regulation. Later, with the game tied again at 123, Robin Lopez blocked a potential go-ahead layup by the Wizards with just 2.6 seconds remaining and the Bucks just missed a last-second opportunity to score a game-winner on the other end, sending the game to overtime tied at 123. In the overtime period, the two teams traded early baskets before the Wizards were able to take a four-point advantage with 1:57 remaining. But from there, Khris Middleton took over, scoring the final nine points of the game for the Bucks, including a huge 3-pointer with 30 seconds left that put Milwaukee up three. After the Wizards made two free throws following the Middleton three, it was Middleton’s two free throws on the other end that iced the game for the Bucks. Middleton finished the night with 40 points while Eric Bledsoe added 23 points and 10 assists. The Wizards were led by Bradley Beal who scored 55 points.
Bucks vs. 76ers – Saturday, Feb. 22 – Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, Wisconsin W, 119-98 – The Bucks picked up another 20-point win and another wire-to-wire victory on Saturday as they defeated the 76ers at Fiserv Forum, 119-98. Milwaukee started the game on a 12-2 run and never looked back as it took a 31-21 lead after one quarter of play. In the second quarter, the 76ers were able to pull within a point at 37-36, but the Bucks responded with a 12-2 run before taking a 56-50 lead at halftime. The Bucks quickly pushed their lead back to double digits to start the second half, and eventually used a 17-3 run in the middle of the quarter to extend an 11-point lead to a 25-point advantage with 3:15 left in the third quarter. Milwaukee led by at least 20 points from that point forward as it went on to pick up its 48th win of the season and move 40 games over .500. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 31 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists while Khris Middleton chipped in 25 points. The 76ers were led by Joel Embiid, Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton who each scored 17 points.
Bucks at Pistons – Thursday, Feb. 20 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, Michigan W, 126-106 – In their first game after the All-Star break, The Bucks picked up a 20-point, 126-106, victory on Thursday night over the Pistons in Detroit. The Bucks were in the driver’s seat for this one as they racked up a 14-point lead entering the second quarter, going ahead 32-18, before taking a 29-point lead at halftime, 70-41. From there, the Bucks held on the rest of the way leading by 20 or more points for the entirety of the third quarter before building a 34-point lead in the fourth quarter – their largest lead of the night – in the final four minutes of play at 124-90. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 33 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Khris Middleton added 28 points. Christian Wood led the Pistons with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Bucks at Pacers – Wednesday, Feb. 12 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Indiana L, 111-118 – In the final game before the All-Star break, the Bucks fell to the Pacers, 111-118, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Milwaukee dug itself into a hole early, coming out of the first quarter down by 14 points, 20-34. The second quarter was more of the same as the Bucks continued to trail, this time by as many as 25 points before entering the locker room down by 23 at 45-68. By outscoring the Pacers, 26-14 in the third quarter, Milwaukee was able to cut Indiana’s lead to an 11-point advantage, 71-82. In the final frame, the Bucks were able to bring the game within four on two occasions but were unable to convert on either of these opportunities as the Pacers quickly took a 17-point lead before closing the game out ahead by seven, 118-111. Donte DiVincenzo carried the Bucks with a career-high-tying 19 points. T.J. Warren led the Pacers with 35 points.
Game Leaders Bucks Wizards Points 40 – Khris Middleton 55 – Bradley Beal Rebounds 14 – Giannis Antetokounmpo 10 – Moritz Wagner Assists 10 – Eric Bledsoe 7 – S. Napier, I. Smith
Game Leaders Bucks 76ers Points 31 – Giannis Antetokounmpo 18 – J. Embiid, F. Korkmaz, S. Milton Rebounds 17 – Giannis Antetokounmpo 11 – Joel Embiid Assists 8 – G. Antetokounmpo, E. Bledsoe 4 – Joel Embiid
Game Leaders Bucks Pistons Points 33 – Giannis Antetokounmpo 18 – Christian Wood Rebounds 16 – Giannis Antetokounmpo 11 – Christian Wood Assists 6 – Eric Bledsoe 7 – Bruce Brown
Game Leaders Bucks Pacers Points 19 – Donte DiVincenzo 35 – T.J. Warren Rebounds 8 – S. Brown, D. DiVincenzo 9 – D. Sabonis, M. Turner Assists 5 – Khris Middleton 13 – Malcolm Brogdon
The view from left field 