"He's a competitor, he's a fighter". Lowry also attacked the rim aggressively, taking on contact and getting to the free throw line 9 times, as compared to 1 free throw the first game. He's human, everybody has a night like that. "You just can't panic every time a guy has a tough night", he continued.
DeMar DeRozan had 23 points, Serge Ibaka added 13 of his 16 points in the second half and Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who improved to 5-1 when playing Game 2 of a playoff series on their home court.
Lowry finished the game with 22 points on 6-for-12 shooting whilst Giannis top-scored for the Bucks with 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. To say Lowry struggled in Game 1 - he scored just four points on 2-of-11 shooting - would be a massive understatement. They were undeterred by one of the more hostile atmospheres in the National Basketball Association, and they'll be hoping for more of the same in Game 2.
Lowry had the last laugh as he set the tone for a more aggressive Raptors performance from the outset.
"That's the way they play", Lowry said. DeMar DeRozan had 27, but it took him 21 shots and 14 free throws to get that (a sub-pedestrian 49.7 true shooting percentage). "We balanced well tonight", he added.
A 3-pointer by DeMarre Carroll and a layup by Lowry gave Toronto a 13-point lead in the third quarter.
The Raptors are in the unenviable position of needing to win Game 2 Wednesday night to avoid going into Milwaukee in a 0-2 hole in the middle of the series. Led by Serge Ibaka, Toronto increased its lead to 95-83 but again Milwaukee clawed its way back. DeRozan replied with a basket. Unfortunately, in the very last game before the break, Lowry broke his wrist and the Raptors season has not been the same ever since.
"We knew he was gong to be more aggressive, we knew he was going to get his shot off", Antetokounmpo said.
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"OK, so next question", said DeRozan. Kidd is not afraid to change things up and is becoming a master of creating mismatches, so even if the Raptors figure out how to play this version of the Bucks, he'll come up with a new plan.
"When I woke up this morning I didn't know", Ibaka said. I don't expect scores to be in the 110's but don't be surprised by some 105-100 finishes.
The Raptors had history on their side, winning Game 2s against Brooklyn in 2014, and then in and Miami last season.
But Kidd brought Maker back in for the fourth and he had a great block, an alley-oop dunk and bothered the Raptors with his length a number of times. An 11-0 run in the fourth quarter when the team appeared to finally put the Bucks away. They also shot far better from three-point range in Game 2 - their 14 threes were a franchise playoff record.
"Yeah, me included, we all have to come back", Valanciunas said on Tuesday when asked if he has the green light to chase offensive rebounds, making him a special case among his teammates. The Bucks scored eight straight points, including four from Middleton, to make it 85-71 with 8:47 left.
Toronto led 28-25 after one quarter and 55-52 after the first half.
In the Second Quarter, the Tony Snell makes 24-foot three point jumper with the assists of Khris Middleton. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in the win with 28points and eight rebounds. Then the Bucks went on a 15-4 run.
More of the same is expected, & required, as they head to Milwaukee for Games 3 & 4, in what are sure to be tense contests.
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