No Bucking the Trend as Toronto Raptors Lose Again

With the Milwaukee Bucks chasing down an elusive playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors had the opportunity to play the spoiler role on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre.

 

However, in a game where both teams seemed to be evenly matched for most of the game, the Raptors (20-54) came up short down the stretch once again dropping a 105-98 decision against the Bucks (30-44).

 

With the win, Milwaukee was able to keep pace with the two teams they are chasing for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Bucks sit three games back of Indiana and two games behind Charlotte who sit in ninth place.

 

Meanwhile, the Raptors have now lost five straight games after coming off a 1-4 road trip against Western Conference teams. Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points in his return to the lineup after missing one game with a sore right ankle. While DeMar DeRozan chipped in 20 points and Leandro Barbosa added 18 points off the bench.

 

Jose Calderon was playing very well for Toronto but was forced to leave the game at the 8:20 mark of the fourth quarter due to a sore left hamstring. He finished with 13 points and eight assists. Small forward James Johnson finished with a career high ten rebounds.

 

Brandon Jennings scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Bucks to go along with seven assists. Centre Andrew Bogut chipped in with 17 points and ten rebounds. Former Raptor Carlos Delfino scored 14 points including a key three-pointer with 4:13 left in the fourth quarter to give the Bucks a 90-88 lead and put his team up for good.

 

Perhaps the biggest difference maker in the game was Drew Gooden, who came off the bench for Milwaukee and chipped in 22 points and 11 rebounds.

 

“I mean our guys who score, scored as well,” said Raptors coach Jay Triano. “DeMar (DeRozan) and Andrea (Bargnani) had twenty plus each. I thought the guy that hurt us was (Drew) Gooden though. When he came in, he made jump shots against our second unit and that hurt us.”

 

In just his second game back after missing 30 due to plantar fasciitis, Gooden came through for the Bucks when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter. He scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the final 12 minutes.

 

“He came in and got some good looks and he knocked them down,” said Bucks coach Scott Skiles.

 

“We ran some high pick-and-rolls with him, he popped away and we delivered the ball to him. He’s been able to make that shot on top of the floor, he knocked them down tonight and he rebounded the ball well too.”

 

For a team that has battled injuries all season long, the Bucks still have a chance to make the playoffs.

 

“Yeah, guys are coming back from injury with nine games, we will see what we can do. We will see if Indiana can keep losing and we will sneak in there,” said Jennings.

 

Added Gooden, “Yes, most definitely.”

 

“We have Indiana next who is a divisional opponent and that is a big game also. From here on out they are all playoff games for us.”