Right from the start of Game 3, which was played in Milwaukee, the Toronto Raptors were already bound to lose after falling to an early 32-12 in the opening period.
They can blame their cold-shooting for that, as the entire team shot just 33.8 percent from the field, including 27.3 percent from down town, at the end of regulation. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry both disappeared in that dreadful setback, combining for a pedestrian 21 points.
Moreover, the former didn’t hit a single field goal, going 0-for-8 in a losing effort. That’s unacceptable for a player like him, as DeRozan is one of the top scorers in the league this season with 25.0 per game. Thus, expect him to bounce back.
Speaking of which, the overall defense of the Raptors needs to redeem itself, too. They let the Bucks have their way easily, allowing them to shoot above 50 percent from the field en route to 104 points in total.
That dominant victory in Game 3 was another convincing reminder as to why the entire NBA, not just the Raptors, need to start fearing the deer—the Milwaukee Bucks.
Led by solid efforts from the pair of Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 20 and 19 points, respectively, the Bucks shot the lights out at with a sizzling shooting rate of 52.7 percent.
Their defense was just as lethal, limiting Toronto’s backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan to miserable nights—particularly one that the latter will probably never forget. Milwaukee now has a 2-1 advantage in this playoff series.
Greg Monroe also continued pacing the Milwaukee bench in the recent win, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds. The former Detroit big man has scored 10 or more points his last six games dating back to the regular season.
