The all of a sudden scorching Milwaukee Bucks will return dwelling for the primary time in additional than two weeks once they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
The Bucks opened their publish All-Star break schedule in New Orleans, the place they pulled away late to beat the Pelicans 139-118 on Friday evening.
The win was Milwaukee’s third in a row and sixth up to now seven contests.
It was a balanced scoring assault for the Bucks, led by 27 factors every from Ryan Rollins and newly acquired Cam Thomas along with 25 factors and 7 assists from Kevin Porter Jr.
Bobby Portis added 17 factors and 11 rebounds.
“We’re simply being aggressive, searching for our photographs on all of our three-level scorers,” Rollins mentioned of the guards’ capacity to seek out the most effective matchup. “Some conditions the place chances are you’ll really feel prefer it’s a bonus that they’ve, we simply name a fast boomerang or simply give them house and allow them to work out.”
Thomas has made a powerful first impression in his three video games since being signed by the Bucks as a free agent this month after being launched by the Brooklyn Nets.
Along with his 27 factors on Friday, he scored 12 in a victory over Oklahoma Metropolis on Feb. 12 and 34 in simply 25 minutes in a win over Orlando they day earlier than.
“The gamers and coaches embraced me as quickly as I received right here. Everybody was like simply be you and play your recreation; that meant quite a bit to me,” mentioned Thomas, 24. “The vibes are actually good; we’re taking part in significant basketball.”
Toronto, in the meantime, received off to a very good begin in its post-break schedule because it took down the Bulls in Chicago 110-101 on Thursday. It was Toronto’s third win in its final 4 video games.
Brandon Ingram led the best way with 31 factors and likewise had eight rebounds and 6 assists. Teammate Scottie Barnes added 14 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
“Normally the primary recreation (after the break) is discovering the rhythm, getting the rust off,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned. “What I am actually pleased with is our guys staying the course throughout the entire recreation. We saved discovering methods to compete.”
Ingram is averaging a team-high 22.0 factors a recreation this season, and Barnes is subsequent at 19.2 whereas main the group in rebounds at 8.4 a recreation.
“I believed it was vital for me to be aggressive whether or not the shot was entering into or not and likewise simply having a presence on the defensive aspect,” Ingram mentioned. “As a pacesetter I need to choose my spots, discuss when it is vital, not simply rah-rah.”
On the harm entrance, Toronto’s report is obvious exterior of Chucky Hepburn, who’s out with a knee harm.
Milwaukee was with out Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Myles Turner (calf) in Friday’s recreation. Coach Doc Rivers reported that Antetokounmpo practiced however has not carried out any dwell five-on-five work. Rivers added that there’s nonetheless no agency timetable for the star’s return, however “he is shut.”
That is the ultimate matchup between Toronto and Milwaukee this season because the Raptors search for the season-series victory, having gained two of the three video games.
In the newest assembly, on Dec. 18, Toronto gained 111-105 behind Ingram’s 29 factors.
–Discipline Stage Media
