Milwaukee kicks off the NBA Cup with a win
In the first NBA Cup action of the year, the Milwaukee Bucks knocked off the Toronto Raptors, 99-85.
With Damian Lillard sidelined due to the concussion protocol, Milwaukee trotted out a unique starting lineup that consisted of AJ Green and Ryan Rollins. Despite the unfamiliarity among the starting five, the Bucks still pieced together a strong start. However, the young-flying Raptors hung around, slicing the deficit to 26-21 going into the second quarter.
The 3-point disparity between the two teams shaped up to be pretty telling between the two teams as the second quarter continued. At the break, the Bucks had attempted 31 3-point attempts compared to Toronto’s six. Despite that, Milwaukee’s lead wasn’t as big as you might’ve expected, sitting at 54-43 at halftime.
In what has become an unfortunate tradition for the Bucks to kick off the year, they laid an absolute egg to begin the second half with Toronto getting right back into things. However, Milwaukee rebounded by securing another double-digit advantage through defense led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Heading into the final quarter, a Bobby Portis buzzer-beater granted the Bucks an 81-67 lead.
From that point on, the Bucks’ lead never faced any true danger of being erased. They did a strong job of holding off Toronto and put the final touches on a well-needed victory. When the buzzer sounded, Milwaukee earned a 99-85 victory.
Stat That Stood Out
How about Ryan Rollins? He’s been rising the ranks lately and with Damian Lillard sidelined in this one, Doc Rivers decided to throw him in the deep end by inserting him into the starting lineup. He wasn’t perfect, but he showed a variety of skills, including some nice shots from deep. Despite exiting late in the third quarter with Left Shoulder Instability, his presence was felt in this one, finishing with 12 shots — all coming from the 3-point ball. It’s going to be interesting to see his usage moving forward.
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