Quick Reaction: Raptors 105, Bucks 99 (Raptors lead series 3-2)

TOR Raptors

105

MIL Bucks

A-	P. Siakam36 MIN, 14 PTS, 13 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 5-15 FG, 2-7 3FG, 2-2 FT, 3 BLK, 1 TO, 8 +/- He’s still struggling offensively, and Siakam missed some really good looks from three in this one at points when the Raptors could’ve used it. However, after getting in foul trouble early he played an incredible defensive game and had some massive moments late in this one at that end of the floor including a pair of fourth quarter blocks.
A+	K. Leonard40 MIN, 35 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 2 STL, 11-25 FG, 5-8 3FG, 8-9 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 +/- He took over. Was everywhere in the fourth quarter at both ends of the floor, was a playmaker, and was completely calm in the stressful moments at the end of the game. This is why you trade for Kawhi Leonard, and he’s making that trade look even better than it was. I’m running out of words for how incredible he is.

B	M. Gasol29 MIN, 4 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-6 FG, 1-4 3FG, 1-2 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -4 +/- The bad first: He turned down a lot of good looks tonight offensively, and didn’t hit enough of the ones he did take, and generally looked tentative during some of the stretches when the Raptors struggled. The good: Monster defensively once again, and had one of the biggest offensive rebounds in Raptors history late in the fourth to help get the win.
A+	K. Lowry39 MIN, 17 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 4-11 FG, 2-8 3FG, 7-8 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 +/- What else can you say? He continues to have a phenomenal series, even if the shot wasn’t as good tonight. Defensively great, controlled the pace of the game for important stretches, and made huge plays down the stretch. Kyle Lowry is awesome and he’s showing the world in this series.
D	D. Green16 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0-3 FG, 0-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -17 +/- Maybe Danny is hurt. I don’t know anymore. But he’s not giving the Raptors much of anything, and they could really use him if he can find a way back to being impactful, even just on the defensive end of the floor.
A+	F. VanVleet37 MIN, 21 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 7-13 FG, 7-9 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 28 +/- Fred should have more kids. Preferably during playoff runs. Had stretches of this game where he took over, and +28 in a 6 point win is a little funny with how good it is. Making Nick Nurse look very smart for keeping the faith in him when he was struggling.

B	N. Powell24 MIN, 8 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2-7 FG, 1-4 3FG, 3-6 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 +/- This wasn’t game 5 Norm, and wasn’t “against the Bucks” Norm either. But it was good enough Norm, and he was still solid when Danny Green was struggling.
B	S. Ibaka19 MIN, 6 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 4-4 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 9 +/- Serge had a relatively quiet night in terms of minutes, because the other guys were rolling in the second half. Was solid when out there.
A+	Nick Nurse This game started horribly for the Raptors. 14-point Bucks lead in the first minutes. And Nurse stayed the course. Trusted his guys, trusted that they’d find a way back into it, and every time the Bucks built a lead back up, he kept getting the Raptors to dig in and fight back, and they held on long enough to take control in the fourth. He’s coached a defensive clinic in this series and the Raptors have been great for three straight games now.