May 17, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game two of the Eastern conference finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2019
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and added five assists as the Milwaukee Bucks took command early in defeating the visiting Toronto Raptors 125-103 Friday night to grab a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The next two games will be played Sunday and Tuesday in Toronto.
Ersan Ilyasova added 17 points off the bench for the Bucks. Nikola Mirotic had 15 points, Malcolm Brogdon 14, George Hill 13 and Khris Middleton 12.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and had eight rebounds for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry added 15 points, Norman Powell had 14 points, and Serge Ibaka contributed eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Bucks, who never trailed on the night, led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter and entered the fourth with a 17-point advantage.
The Raptors cut the deficit to 15 on Leonard’s layup and free throw with 6:10 to play, but Antetokounmpo quickly answered with his own three-point play.
Toronto’s Pascal Siakam fouled out with 5:17 to go, finishing the game with eight points.
The Bucks scored the first nine points of the game, led by as many as 18 points in the first quarter and were ahead 35-21 after 12 minutes.
The Raptors pulled within 12 during the second quarter, but the Bucks turned it on again and took a 19-point lead when Ilyasova nailed a 3-pointer with 4:58 remaining in the first half.
The Bucks led 64-39 at halftime, shooting 48.9 percent from the field while the Raptors shot 36.6 percent. For the game, Milwaukee outshot Toronto 46.7 percent to 42.5 percent.
Antetokounmpo opened the third quarter with a layup and a free throw, bumping the lead to 28.
The Raptors had trimmed the margin to 23 with 9:26 left in the third when they encountered foul trouble with Siakam picking up his fifth personal foul.
Fred VanVleet made a 5-footer with 3:52 remaining, and Milwaukee’s lead had dwindled to 13.
The Bucks got the gap back to 19, however, on consecutive layups by Hill late in the third.
Toronto’s Jodie Meeks ended the third quarter with a 3-pointer to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 95-78.
(-Field Level Media)
