 | MIL Bucks | 102 | Final Box Score | 120 | TOR Raptors |  |
 C | P. Siakam23 MIN, 7 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 0 STL, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1-1 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 +/- Uncharacteristically poor game from Pascal as the energy that endeared him to Raptors’ fans in the first place was absent for long stretches. He was sloppy with the ball early, leading to easy Milwaukee baskets. And his defense focus was spotty, allowing Middleton to gain momentum going forward. | |
 B+ | K. Leonard34 MIN, 19 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 4 STL, 6-13 FG, 1-3 3FG, 6-8 FT, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 16 +/- It was clear early on that the 52 minutes Leonard played last game on a bum wheel had caught up to him. Out of the gate, Leonard lacked the aggressiveness we’d grown accustomed to and numerous of his jumpers drew front iron. However, Leonard stymied Antetokounmpo whenever assigned to him and as the game wore on, his legs came alive. Seemingly every time the Bucks got within striking distance, Leonard had an answer. In particular, Leonard’s two lefty dunks in the third quarter killed all of Milwaukee’s burgeoning momentum in the game’s critical stretch. | |
 A- | M. Gasol31 MIN, 17 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 6-11 FG, 3-6 3FG, 2-2 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 2 +/- A second straight excellent game from Gasol to follow-up his embarrassing game two. With Leonard hampered, Gasol consistently acted as the fulcrum for the Raptors offence, finding cutters and shooters all night. Gasol maintaining this level of play is arguably the most important variable for Toronto going forward. | |
 A | K. Lowry34 MIN, 25 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 0 STL, 6-11 FG, 3-7 3FG, 10-10 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 5 +/- It’s hard to imagine Lowry playing better than he did in game one, but this was close. Missing the crucial portion of game three appeared to energize Lowry out of the gate as he scored 10 of the Raptors’ first 15 points. Lowry’s aggressiveness slowed down as the game progressed, but his game management never faltered. | |
 C- | D. Green25 MIN, 4 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 10 +/- Typical game for Green based on his recent production. Still, he made veteran plays throughout and for the most part, defended at a high level. | |
 B+ | N. Powell32 MIN, 18 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 6-18 FG, 4-13 3FG, 2-3 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 29 +/- Not as efficient as ‘playoff Norm’ games of Raptors’ past, but still, equally as entertaining. The energy a Norm basket gives the crowd almost makes it feel like it’s worth an extra point. However, Norm made a few erratic plays characteristic of his regular season form that could mean trouble if they continue in Milwaukee. | |
 A | F. VanVleet25 MIN, 13 PTS, 1 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 5-6 FG, 3-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 25 +/- This was as close to a ‘bench mob’ VanVleet performance as Raptors’ fans have gotten from him in the playoffs. His ability to stretch the floor was as present as ever, he made the right play every time, and he defended his tail off. | |
 A+ | S. Ibaka24 MIN, 17 PTS, 13 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 7-12 FG, 0-3 3FG, 3-3 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 24 +/- The extra rest for Ibaka in game three (14 mins) clearly played a role in this one. Ma Fuzzy Chef came out the gate a man possessed, grabbing every rebound and relentlessly running the floor. With the win tonight, when Ibaka scores in double figures, the Raptors are 7-0 in the playoffs (he scored 10 in his first 10 minutes tonight). | |
 A | Nick Nurse It’s so much easier for a coach when their offence can generate system points based on natural movement and flow, rather than just relying on Siakam, Leonard, and Lowry’s individual brilliance to create something from nothing. When the offence is working as well as it did tonight, it’s hard to fault him for believing in his bench players as wholeheartedly as he has. | |
Things We Saw
- Khris Middleton’s 30 points tonight falls one shy of his point total for the series entering tonight. One can only hope his big night doesn’t lead to a mid-series turnaround.
- The Raptors tying the Bucks for points in the paint is something key to monitor going forward. As Adam outlined in the game four preview this morning, points in the paint, along with offensive rebounding and fast break points are the three main areas the Bucks dominate in this matchup.
- After averaging a measly 19.6 points per game since the start of the 76ers series, the bench combined for an efficient 48 tonight. There mightn’t be a team in the league that can beat Toronto when they get a full team effort such as this.
