Andrew Bogut helps Milwaukee Bucks’ defeat Toronto Raptors 92-74
Despite their recent struggles, the Milwaukee Bucks' hopes for a second consecutive post-season remain very much alive. They came into the game against the Toronto Raptors, being just two and a half games behind Indiana Pacers for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
A dominant 92-74 win at the Bradley Centre ensured that the Bucks stayed within touching distance of a playoff spot.
This was not a night for offence, as both teams slogged throughout the game to get into their offensive groove. The first half was especially woeful as the teams only managed a combined total of 78 points. With the advent of the second quarter though, the Bucks took control of the game by pulling off an early 11-2 run. After that the Bucks dominated the game completely, as the Raptors refused to come out of their cold-shooting shell.
Five Milwaukee players featured in double figures as the home team snapped a four-game losing streak. John Salmons was the top scorer for the Bucks. The shooting guard, who returned to the lineup after three weeks, went 7-of-18 from the field to lead the Bucks with 17 points. Corey Maggette added 16 points and nine rebounds for Milwaukee. Luc Mbah a Moute notched a double-double with 10 points and 14 boards, while Brandon Jennings had 12 points and four steals.
The stand out performer on the night for the Bucks though was Andrew Bogut. The seven foot tall, intimidating centre pulled off a marvellous performance at both ends of the floor. Bogut balanced an efficient scoring night of 14 points with some solid defensive play - including five blocked shots and countless others altered.
In addition to that he was the key component of a shored up defence that never allowed the Raps front line any breathing space. Bogut praised his team's performance by saying, “I think our defence was the key. We kept them at 36 per cent from the field; they didn’t hit a three on us, and didn’t get to the line too much.”
Toronto on the other hand continued to slip in the season and lost their 10th straight road game. Andrea Bargnani, who returned for the Raps in the last game after a prolonged injury lay-off, shrugged off the rust, scoring a match-high 23 points. DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points and also grabbed seven rebounds.
The rest of the cast had a miserable outing. The trio of Sony Weems, Amir Johnson and Jose Calderon in particular had a night to forget. The trio combined for a 5-of-32 shooting effort from the field, as Toronto combined for only 36 percent field goal percentage, and missed all 10 attempts from downtown.
The game had a lacklustre beginning as neither team managed to find their rhythm. The Raptors in particular had a miserable night. With the exception of DeRozan, who scored 12 points on a 6-of-7 shooting, the visitors barely looked like scoring. They scrapped through to a 38-point first half.
However, they were strong defensively, as they found themselves down by just two at the break. The third quarter saw the Raptors continue their shooting woes. The Bucks on the other hand, pounded one shot after another as they gradually began to extend their lead. A 14-0 surge early in the fourth quarter, proved to be the final straw as they romped to a 92-74 win.
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