Alphabet brother is absent
The Milwaukee Bucks' winning streak, which was ended by the Detroit Pistons, was somewhat surprising. In such a situation, the team desperately needs to use a victory to get back on the winning track. In this game, the Bucks have to face the Toronto Raptors. Recently, the Raptors have been in excellent form, after a wave of 3 consecutive wins, they have come to the ninth position in the East, the same record as the Wizards in the eighth place in the East, so the importance of this game is self-evident.
Even if alphabet brother is absent due to injury, the Bucks are still the superior team, but the Raptors' front line is not weak, Siakam partner Anunoby, can definitely bring trouble to the Bucks, and VanVleet, recently played a Van Jordan-level performance.
Upset reversal
VanVleet continued his previous form, with 8 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in the first quarter, Anunoby also had 8 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist, Siakam had 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, and the Raptors bombed 35 points in the first quarter, which was good enough, but it still could not stop the defending champion Bucks. In the absence of The Alphabet Brother, Holliday had 9 points and 4 assists in the first quarter, Portis had 7 points and 4 rebounds, Hood hit 2 three-pointers, and the Bucks blasted 42 points in the single quarter, which was simply unstoppable. After returning from the second quarter, the Bucks' scoring momentum continued.
Cousins on the bench once again dreamed of returning to the top, 4 of 5 shooting, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in a single quarter, and only 1 turnover, leading the Bucks to take 35 points in a single quarter, although the Raptors still have 33 points to score, but at the end of the half, the Bucks have led the Raptors by 9 points 77-68. In the second half, the Bucks suddenly fell into a scoring drought, only 11 points in a single quarter, the Raptors naturally will not let go of such a good opportunity, Siakam got 10 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in a single quarter, leading the team to successfully surpass 4 points.
In the final quarter that decided the outcome of the game, the Bucks regained their touch slightly, Middleton had 10 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal, Holliday also had 3 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, but the Raptors did not give the Bucks a chance, always occupying a slight lead, Trent had 10 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in the last quarter, Siakam also had 7 points and 1 steal, and the Raptors beat the Bucks 117-111.
Accidentally cut
The Bucks upset and lost the game, but after the game came the news, according to the famous Shams report, the Bucks plan to cut Cousins to maintain the flexibility of the team's lineup. In this game, Cousins's personal performance was very good, playing 19 minutes, shooting 5 of 8, shooting 3 of 2 three-pointers, 15 points and 10 rebounds, as well as 3 steals and 1 block, including 12 points in the second quarter. A veteran player with a base salary, what else can you ask for? Unfortunately, Cousins said goodbye to the NBA league once again, and the only hope is that this period of performance will allow him to have the next contract.
Middleton had 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists on 9-of-16 shooting, decent, Holliday was not in good hands, only 15 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists on 5-of-15 shooting, the Raptors side, Siakam as the starting center, had 33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 1 block, Anunoby shot 6 of 10, also had 22 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, VanVleet hit 5 three-pointers, it was 19 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, Trent broke out in the last quarter, got 22 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, after winning the game, The Raptors moved to seventh place in the East.