Poor performance in Toronto and a tough loss for the Bucks from Antetokounmpo and Lillard

The Bucks suffered their second defeat in four games of the 2023/24 season early Thursday (November 2nd), losing 130-111 in Toronto to the Raptors, who were better prepared for this duel. The Milwaukee team left their base for the first time this year, showed a very ugly face in defense, creation and execution in the first half, and no matter how hard they tried in the second, it wasn’t easy to slow the pace Canadian.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was caught up in the Bucks’ general mediocrity (16 points, 4 rebounds in 27:41), Damian Lillard is still trying to adjust to a completely new situation and isn’t particularly threatening, Khris Middleton remains on a minutes restriction and Brook Lopez was very “difficult” at the beginning of the season. Malik Beasley was the only standout player, scoring 20 points (6/9 3-pointers) and is a player to keep an eye on as he is easy to score from the perimeter.

For their part, the Raptors (2-3) had their entire starting lineup on a great night and put pressure on the Bucks by scoring points at the stick and scoring easy points from scrimmage. Schroeder (24 points, 11 assists), Barnes (21 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists), Anunoby (16 points, 7/7 shooting), Siakam (26 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), Poltl (14 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks) were great, the ball moved well, the execution was at a high level and Darko Rajakovic saw good basketball for the first time this year.

The next opponent is the New York Knicks at the Fiserv Forum, in the early hours of Saturday (November 4th) at 2:30 a.m., in the first game of the newly founded in-season tournament.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s account

The game didn’t go smoothly for him in the first third; he had one goal foul, two rebounds and two turnovers in just under nine minutes. In the second period he played six more times, he didn’t score, he didn’t get a rebound, he tried to play for the people around him but he wasn’t himself, he was clearly out of rhythm. He became more aggressive in the second half and pounced on the Raptors defense when nothing was working for his team, but again the night was quiet. However, he wore down the Raptors, posting -10 in +/- in the time he remained on the court.

• 16 points
• 5/11 two points
• 6/9 shots
• 4 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 1 steal
• 3 errors
• 3 fouls
• at 27:41

The Bucks never led in the game. 66-40 racket points, 26-5 surprise points, 29-43 replacement points, 10-17 opponent errors, 21-13 second chance points.

THE DODECALEPTA: 31-18, 66-44, 95-79, 130-111

TORONTO RAPTORS (Darko Rajakovic): Anunoby 16 (6/6 2-pointers, 1/1 3-pointers, 1/2 shots, 3 assists), Siakam 26 (4/5 2-pointers, 5/8 3-pointers, 3/ 3 shots, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), Poltl 14 (7/10 2-pointers, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks), Barnes 21 (4/6 3-pointers, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks), Schroeder 24 (7/9 two-pointers, 2/4 three-pointers, 4/4 shots, 4 rebounds, 11 assists), Trent 8, Dick 5 (1/8 three-pointers), Flynn 2, Bouche 6, Porter 6 (2), Temple

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (Adrian Griffin): Middleton 11 (1), Giannis Antetokounmpo 16 (5/11 2-points, 6/9 shots, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Brook Lopez 6 (1/8 shots, 3 rebounds, 2 steals), Beasley 20 (6/9 3-pointers), Lillard 15 (3/5 2-pointers, 1/4 3-pointers, 6/7 shots, 2 rebounds, 6 assists), Connaughton 3 (1), Crowder 9 (2 ), Portis 10 (2/6 shooting, 6/9 shots, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Payne 4, Beauchamp 5 (1), Jackson 2, Livingston 5 (1), Green 2, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Toronto Raptors team stats: 36/52 2-pointers, 15/38 3-pointers, 13/14 shots, 53 rebounds, 35 assists, 7 steals, 7 blocks, 16 turnovers, 25 fouls

Milwaukee Bucks team stats: 22/41 2-pointers, 12/33 3-pointers, 28/38 shots, 37 rebounds, 20 assists, 9 steals, 2 blocks, 12 turnovers, 17 fouls