Ibaka sits out practice, but expected to play

Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points and eight rebounds. That’s one thing about the playoffs, teams are gonna gameplan for me and DeMar. “But it’s something we’re not unfamiliar with, being at this point”. After another open shot from Ibaka rimmed out, Delly hit a wide open triple as the Raps recovery scramble was late following a magnificent one-handed swing pass from Malcolm Brogdon in the corner.

The Bucks, who were down after two quarters, lacked momentum, and it was Maker who changed the run of the game. Antetokounmpo was brilliant in Game 1, however. It wasn’t great the following year against Washignton when he fouled out of the series opener and then returned for just six points in the only loss of a Game 2 the past three years. “I played through it”. “We have to stay together, stay focused”.

DeRozan led Toronto with 27 points, and Serge Ibaka had 19 points and 14 rebounds. “I’ve always said it’s a hard way to live”. “We didnt play with any pace, any rhythm, any movement”. It was eventually reversed in the second half, but it was confusing to see during the first half. We’ve had it in stretches but we’ve lived by being down and coming back.

If there were any questions about Monroe’s role in this series, I think he emphatically answered those questions with Saturday’s performance.

In just his second career playoff series, the All-Star shot 13-18 from the field and added eight rebounds and three assists. What did we (and hopefully coach Dwane Casey) learn from defeat, and how can those lessons help us turn defeat into victory?

“He had some good looks, he just missed some shots”, Casey said. They gameplanned really well for us.

The Raptors shot 36 percent from the field and the Bucks shot 44.7 percent. “A lot of that led to tough shots, challenged shots. He’s won that spot with them so we’ve got to respect him and he’s somebody we definitely have to take out”.

For now, though, that home-court advantage they worked so hard for is gone.

Without Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee closed the quarter on an 11-5 run to take a 75-70 lead into the fourth. Among players to make exactly seven 3-pointers in the first round over the 2016 and 2017 postseasons, Jeff Teague has the next-most attempts with 26.

“Once they got their mojo going, we didnt do a good job”, Casey said. Had they played Monday, he believes he’d likely have to sit.

The Raptors led 51-46 at the intermission. Any time you are playing these guys, you have to contain DeRozan and Lowry. Three years ago, they were unable to slow down Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets.

Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double by scoring an NBA-best 31.6 points a game, with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.

Antetokounmpo’s energy was equally high to start the second quarter, with a running layup, step-back jump shot, reverse dunk and driving dunk.

On the other side, the Bucks snapped a 17-game road losing streak in Game 1s.

CLEVELAND – Their regular-season issues followed the Cavaliers into the playoffs. Bucks F/C Greg Monroe also made his playoff debut after playing 538 regular-season games.

After each Raptors playoff game, Mitch Robson will take you through a pivotal moment on which the game hinged. The second game of the best-of-seven series will be played Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.