By the Associated Press
MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 115-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Eastern Conference finals.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 115-105. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Eric Bledsoe added 14 points and five assists, and Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez each had 11 points for the Bucks.
The Bucks had the best record in the East last season and then took a 2-0 lead over the Raptors in the conference finals, but Toronto took the next four en route to its first NBA championship.
In this rematch, Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 36 points and Pascal Siakam 16 for Toronto, which had won four of its first five this season.
The Bucks’ habit of blowing big leads nearly cost them again. They led by 19 in the first half against Boston and 21 in the third quarter over Miami, but lost them both.
The Raptors, who had trailed by as much as 26 points, pulled within four three times in the fourth quarter, the last on a 3-pointer from Fred VanVleet that made it 107-103 with 2:24 to play.
Toronto coach Nick Nurse challenged the call on Siakam’s sixth foul with 1:41 to play, but a review confirmed it and George Hill pushed the lead to six with two free throws. Antetokounmpo tacked on two more baskets and Bledsoe added one for the final margin.
Lowry’s 17 points and 12 from Siakam pulled Toronto to 95-90 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bucks led 36-17 at the end of the first quarter and 66-50 at the half behind 17 points from Antetokounmpo and a dismal offensive showing from Toronto. The Raptors shot 13 of 41 (31.7 from the floor. Siakam, Toronto’s leading scorer averaging 28 points, had five points on 2-for-8 shooting.
Wiggins’ 21 points lead Wolves over Wizards
Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points, Robert Covington and Jarrett Culver each added 20 and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 131-109 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Robert Covington (33) goes to the basket next to Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (8) during the first half. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Minnesota, which improved to 4-1 for the first time since 2012-13, had six players in double figures.
Bradley Beal scored 30 points for Washington (1-4). The Wizards began the 2018-19 season with seven losses in eight games.
Playing without Karl-Anthony Towns, who was serving the first of a two-game suspension for fighting with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid on Wednesday, Minnesota led throughout the game. The Wolves were already ahead by 10 with 3 ½ minutes gone in the second quarter and increased their lead steadily.
Wiggins’ 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter extended the lead to 106-72.
Gorgui Dieng, who started in place of Towns, scored 18 points. Jeff Teague had 15 points and 13 assists, and Jake Layman added 14 points.
After losing 159-158 to Houston on Wednesday, the Wizards completely fell apart against the Timberwolves.
Minnesota won the last meeting between the teams on March 9, and this game broke a pattern of alternating wins and losses over 20 meetings that began March 9, 2009.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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