Giannis, Lillard dominate as Bucks as Bucks beat Raptors 130-112

On January 18, 2025By Littum

The Milwaukee Bucks won their third straight game and posted a win for the sixth time in their last seven games with a wire-to-wire 130-112 upset of the NBA draft lottery-bound Toronto Raptors on Friday night at the Fiserv Forum. Milwaukee (23-17) is now 3-0 in this current homestand, which ends Sunday against Philadelphia, and finds itself one game behind New York in the loss column for No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

For the third straight game, the Bucks burst out of the gates, went on a 14-3 run to start the game and never really looked back. Toronto trailed by as many as 20 at several points and cut the deficit to 10 early in the fourth quarter, but the Raptors never really felt like they would threaten to come all the way back.

BOX SCORE: Bucks 130, Raptors 112

But to be safe, the Bucks didn’t start subbing out their starters until the final minutes of the game. Five different players reached double figures in scoring for Milwaukee, and the bench scored 44 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo (35 points, 12 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (26 points, eight assists) led the Bucks.

Seven different Raptors reached double figures as well as their best scoring 46. RJ Barrett led Toronto with 21.

Toronto fell to 10-32 after winning two straight, which included a victory over the Boston Celtics.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard hit an extra gear

The Bucks’ star duo entered the game averaging – and league-best – 56.3 points per game. game, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to see them put the ball in the basket at a high rate against the Raptors. But the way they started the game was impressive as the Bucks led 72-57 at halftime.

The duo scored 40 points in the decisive first half, with Lillard scoring 22 on 5-of-8 shooting (including 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line) and Antetokounmpo scoring 18 on 5-of-9 shooting. Lillard was also 8 for 8 from the free throw line, while Antetokounmpo was 8 for 12.

If not for four Antetokounmpo turnovers, the damage might have been greater in their opening minutes together.

Entering the game behind Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.6), Antetokounmpo (31.3 ppg) finished with 35 points, while Lillard had 26.

Antetokounmpo also passed Michael Jordan for seventh all-time for games played with at least 30 points scored on at least 60% shooting with 139. Wilt Chamberlain is sixth with 152. Bucks Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most games with 247.

Bucks live on the free throw line

One game after tying a season-high 35 free throw attempts against Orlando, the Bucks went right back to attacking the paint against Toronto – which was the right move as the Raptors came into the game giving up a league-worst 26.0 free throws . attempts per game.

The Bucks were fouled 28 times and shot 41 free throws, led by Antetokounmpo (18 attempts) and Lillard (10).

The Bucks capitalized on those chances as well, making a season-high 33. Their previous best was 26, last accomplished on Oct. 28 in Boston.

Seven different Milwaukee players attempted a free throw.

Unlike the game against the Magic, when the team attempted an NBA-low 12 three-pointers, the Bucks shot threes Friday night by attempting 31.

Khris Middleton finds a rhythm off the bench

When the Bucks last played in Toronto, on Jan. 6, Khris Middleton went from probable to play on an afternoon after he didn’t participate in shootaround — and the team decided he would return to coming off the bench while he was under a minute. limitation after offseason surgeries on both ankles.

After a 2-for-7 performance in 21 minutes in his return to a bench role on Jan. 8, Middleton has averaged 13.7 points (on 63% shooting), 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals in just 22 minutes per three competitions.

“I mean, just staying on the path — at least trying to stay on the path — still has a long way to go, like I’ve always said,” Middleton said after Wednesday night’s win over Orlando. “But I’m just happy to be out there playing.”

He shook his head when asked if it mattered what combinations of players he was with, if it helped at all.

“You just have to be on the field, be on the field and play — that’s it,” he said. “Simple as that.”

After the Jan. 10 game in Orlando, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said minutes are guaranteed for anyone, noting that Middleton closed out the game against the Magic but liked the game. He played 25 minutes against New York and then 21 minutes against Orlando in a blowout.

“He’s starting to get his rhythm — more importantly, he’s starting to get his rhythm with that unit,” Rivers said after Wednesday’s game. “And they’re starting to get their rhythm with him. You can see the bonuses of that. He’s coming in, he’s getting the ball more times now, so he can get into a rhythm. It’s been really good.”

Against the Raptors, Middleton was once again effective in 24 minutes, scoring 13 minutes on 4 of 6 shooting. He also dished out five assists, had three rebounds and one steal.

Five numbers

3.9: Seconds left in the first half with his team trailing 69-55 when Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković challenged a bad call on Scottie Barnes drawn by Damian Lillard. After a quick review, Barnes was actually called the foul and Lillard shot three free throws. It was the second time the Raptors defeated Lillard.

5: Starting this season for Bucks guard Ryan Rollins.

19: Play back where point guard Ryan Rollins could be active after Tuesday’s game. The Bucks have 42 games left in the regular season. Rollins is currently a two-way player, and players signed to those deals can only be active for 50 games in a season — but head coach Doc Rivers said there’s a chance the team makes a roster move for to fully guarantee Rollins’ deal for the rest of the season.

51: Combined personal fouls by the two teams.

65: Combined free throws for Bucks and Raptors.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes. The MVP candidate is available to play despite dealing with right knee soreness that has been present since training camp.

Gary Trent Jr. is back, Andre Jackson Jr. is after Bucks

The Bucks will trade shooting guards against the Raptors as Gary Trent Jr. returns after missing three games with a left hip flexor strain, while Andre Jackson Jr. came out with a torn hip contusion he suffered late in the first half on Wednesday against Orlando.

“We feel good, we’re back,” Trent said at shootaround when asked about the injury that caused him to miss three games. “It’s going to be a great day. It’s great to be back. Go out there and get a win.”

Bucks starting lineup

Guards: Damian Lillard, Ryan Rollins
Forwards: Taurean Prince, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center: Brook Lopez

Buck’s injury report

Andre Jackson Jr., out (right hip contusion)
MarJon Beauchamp, out (non-COVID illness)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, available (right patella tendinopathy)
Khris Middleton, available (bilateral ankle surgery)
Gary Trent Jr., available (left hip flexor stretch)

What channel is Bucks on?

The game will tip off at 7:00 pm and will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Steve Novak and Melanie Ricks on the call.

Bucks vs. Raptors odds, over/under

Milwaukee is an 11.5-point favorite over Toronto, and the over/under is 232.5 points per game. BetMGM.