2017 NBA Playoffs: DeMar DeRozan helps Toronto Raptors advance over Milwaukee Bucks
DeMar DeRozan had 32 points and 5 steals as the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 92-89 in Game 6 to close out their first-round playoff series on Thursday. The Raptors will now advance to the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs where they face reigning champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Raptors nearly blew a 25-point lead as the Bucks outscored the visiting team 28-18 in the final quarter. However, Corey Joseph helped the Raptors go on 9-0 run in the final two minutes of the game to starve off Milwaukee's late challenge. With 1:27 left in the game, Joseph made a clutch three-pointer which helped the Raptors claim a 85-82 lead. With 34 seconds left, Joseph made two foul shots to ice the game.
Some felt that the Raptors secured victory in the second quarter when their defence stifled Milwaukee's shooters, keeping them to just 14 points, taking 51-38 lead into the half time break. However, the young Bucks team, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, made a valiant fight back in the second half, outscoring Raptors by a margin of 51-41. Antetokounmpo played 47 out of the 48 maximum minutes for his impressive tally of 34 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
2017 NBA Playoffs: Raptors nearly throw away 25-point lead
After the victory, Raptors coach Dwane Casey admitted that his team dug a hole in the second half and nearly allowed the Bucks to force a Game 7. "We lost our composure a little bit. Again, we found a way to (hold on). That's what good teams do." Casey also spoke in length about the forthcoming rubber match against the Cavs. During last year's playoffs, the Eastern Conference finals were tied at two wins apiece until LeBron James and the Cavaliers closed out the series in Games 5 and 6. This year, analysts are expecting a closer series especially after the Raptors added Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker before February's NBA Trade Deadline.
Jason Kidd, coach of the Bucks, felt his team should have done better than 9/18 at the free throw line during the fourth quarter. The Bucks shot a combined 18/28 from the foul line for the game. "We always talk about the little things, and when we look at this it comes down to just free throws. We don't need to overanalyze it. We got to the stripe and we just couldn't capitalize on that," Kidd said after the loss, via ESPN.
The Cavs vs Raptors second-round series is likely to commence on Monday. Stay tuned for the latest news and updates surrounding the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
