Fred VanVleet scored 29 points, Pascal Siakam had 20 and the Toronto Raptors took advantage of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence to beat Milwaukee 97-93 Thursday night, ending the Bucks’ winning streak at eight.
Antetokounmpo was out because of soreness in his right calf, a day after he scored 40 points as Milwaukee beat Charlotte 127-125. The two-time NBA MVP sat for the first time since Nov. 12, when he missed an overtime loss at Boston because of a sprained right ankle.
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Fred VanVleet scored 29 points, Pascal Siakam had 20 and the Toronto Raptors took advantage of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence to beat Milwaukee 97-93 Thursday night, ending the Bucks’ winning streak at eight.
Jrue Holiday scored 26 points, Khris Middleton had 22 and Bobby Portis Jr. had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who lost for the first time since a Nov. 14 defeat at Atlanta.
The Raptors made six of 10 from 3-point range in the first to lead 26-23 after one, then missed seven straight from beyond the arc to begin the second. Toronto led 48-40 at halftime.
Precious Achiuwa fouled Middleton on a 3-point attempt, then picked up another foul battling Portis for the rebound after Middleton missed his third attempt. Portis made the first but missed the second, Milwaukee got the rebound, but Pat Connaughton missed a corner 3 that would have given the Bucks the lead.
Bucks: C Brook Lopez had back surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday. There is no timetable for his return. Lopez hasn’t played since Milwaukee’s season-opening victory over Brooklyn. … Grayson Allen scored 10 points. … Sandro Mamukelashvili had eight points and 10 rebounds. … F Semi Ojeleye (right calf) and G Donte DiVincenzo (left ankle) were not available.
Scottie Barnes scored 13 points as the Raptors won for the first time in four games and snapped a five-game home losing streak, their longest since January 2011.
Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday, right, drives on Toronto Raptors' Yuta Watanabe during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Toronto. (Chris YoungThe Canadian Press via AP)
Jrue Holiday scored 26 points, Khris Middleton had 22 and Bobby Portis Jr. had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who lost for the first time since a Nov. 14 defeat at Atlanta.
Newly signed center DeMarcus Cousins was out for Milwaukee. Cousins scored seven points in 15 minutes in his Bucks debut Wednesday.
Gary Trent Jr. returned to Toronto’s starting lineup after missing the past two games because of a sore right calf, but forward OG Anunoby (left hip) and Khem Birch (right knee) sat for the eighth straight game.
Milwaukee Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo, lower right, looks to pass the ball away from Toronto Raptors' Chris Boucher, left, and Scottie Barnes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Toronto. (Chris YoungThe Canadian Press via AP)
The Raptors made six of 10 from 3-point range in the first to lead 26-23 after one, then missed seven straight from beyond the arc to begin the second. Toronto led 48-40 at halftime.
After scoring three points in the first half, VanVleet made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the third. Middleton replied with seven points in the final minute of the quarter, including a buzzer-beating jump shot, but the Raptors took a 73-68 lead into the fourth.
Portis made a 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining to bring the Bucks to within 93-90, but VanVleet answered with a pair of free throws.
Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis, left, drives past Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Toronto. (Chris YoungThe Canadian Press via AP)
Precious Achiuwa fouled Middleton on a 3-point attempt, then picked up another foul battling Portis for the rebound after Middleton missed his third attempt. Portis made the first but missed the second, Milwaukee got the rebound, but Pat Connaughton missed a corner 3 that would have given the Bucks the lead.
VanVleet made two more from the line to seal it for Toronto.
TIP-INS
Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis, left, shoots on Toronto Raptors' Svi Mykhailiuk during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Toronto. (Chris YoungThe Canadian Press via AP)
Bucks: C Brook Lopez had back surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday. There is no timetable for his return. Lopez hasn’t played since Milwaukee’s season-opening victory over Brooklyn. … Grayson Allen scored 10 points. … Sandro Mamukelashvili had eight points and 10 rebounds. … F Semi Ojeleye (right calf) and G Donte DiVincenzo (left ankle) were not available.
Raptors: Toronto snapped a five-game home losing streak against the Bucks. … Siakam, who fouled out, and Achiuwa each had eight rebounds. … Siakam has scored 17 or more in seven straight games. … VanVleet finished 6 for 6 at the free throw line.
UP NEXT
Toronto Raptors' Yuta Watanabe celebrates after scoring against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Toronto. (Chris YoungThe Canadian Press via AP)
Bucks: Host Miami on Saturday night
Raptors: Host Washington on Sunday night.
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