Fri Mar 2, 11:23 PM
By Gregory Strong
TORONTO (CP) - Just one game after shooting the lights out in one of their best efforts of the season, the Toronto Raptors turned in a dud Friday night.
The Milwaukee Bucks took advantage, using an effective zone defence and some solid fourth-quarter shooting to defeat the Raptors 94-81 before a crowd of 18,816 at Air Canada Centre.
Toronto entered the game brimming with confidence after an impressive 106-90 victory in Houston two nights earlier. The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors never got on track against the Bucks and saw their lead on the idle New Jersey Nets slip to 3½ games.
Michael Redd led all scorers with 21 points and Andrew Bogut added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks (22-37), who won just their ninth road game of the season.
"We needed it bad," Redd said.
Charlie Bell chipped in with 19 points and former Raptor Charlie Villanueva added 14. Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors (32-27) with 16 points.
"They just beat us, we didn't make shots," coach Sam Mitchell said. "Twenty-eight (field goals made) or whatever - it's probably the worst shooting night we've had all year."
It was.
Toronto's previous low was 29 field goals against Portland on Dec. 10. Against the Bucks, the Raptors were 28-of-76 from the field (36.8 per cent) and took a season-high 31 three-point attempts, connecting on 10.
"Instead of penetrating in the zone and finding guys, we settled for the jump shot," said Raptors swingman Morris Peterson. "Sometimes you live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot."
It was a back-and-forth affair over the first three quarters, but the Bucks started strong in the fourth, with Villanueva hitting a three-pointer to put Milwaukee up 73-63. T.J. Ford hit a jumper to put Toronto within six points with 5:20 left, but Redd found his rhythm after that.
He hit two straight shots, including a 15-foot fadeaway with 3:06 left that put the Bucks up 86-73 and they coasted the rest of the way.
"We knew that if we could get them on their heels in the fourth quarter we might have an opportunity to win on the road," Redd said. "That confidence helped us pull it out in the end."
The Raptors, who play in Cleveland on Saturday night, entered the game having won three of four and 10 of their last 13. The Bucks shot 45.1 per cent, were out-rebounded 47-41, but had just 12 turnovers to Toronto's 19.
Chris Bosh opened the scoring on the Raptors' first possession by draining an open jumper from the top of the key. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and gave credit to Milwaukee's defence.
"This is the first time we've struggled with the zone," he said. "Usually we're pretty good against it because we've got those guys spotting up and making shots. Against Houston we shot almost 60 per cent. Our shots were kind of flat today."
Bargnani, who couldn't fly to his native Italy on Thursday to visit his ailing grandfather due to bad weather, entered at 5:08 of the first and hit a three-pointer on his first shot. Toronto led 22-21 after the opening period.
Maurice Williams hit a deep three with 3:28 left in the second to put Milwaukee up 40-38. But Bargnani, the first overall pick in last year's NBA draft, got the crowd into it with two minutes left in the half. He took a pass near the baseline and spun underneath the net before slamming it home to tie the score 42-42.
Villanueva answered with a bucket a few seconds later to put the Bucks back in front and Milwaukee took a 48-45 lead into the half. Bell opened the third with an easy layup to put the Bucks up by five. Neither team was able to pull away but Ruben Patterson hit a thundering dunk with 17.2 seconds left to give Milwaukee a 68-63 lead, which they held after three quarters.
Notes:-Bargnani plans to fly to Rome on Saturday, but should only miss one game . . . Villanueva got a nice hand when he entered the game late in the first . . . Toronto swingman Anthony Parker did not play due to a sprained right ankle. Bucks centre Dan Gadzuric (shoulder) and forward Bobby Simmons (heel) were also out with injuries . . . During a half-time ceremony, Raptors guard Jose Calderon was named an athlete ambassador for the Right To Play charity.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press
By Gregory Strong
TORONTO (CP) - Just one game after shooting the lights out in one of their best efforts of the season, the Toronto Raptors turned in a dud Friday night.
The Milwaukee Bucks took advantage, using an effective zone defence and some solid fourth-quarter shooting to defeat the Raptors 94-81 before a crowd of 18,816 at Air Canada Centre.
Toronto entered the game brimming with confidence after an impressive 106-90 victory in Houston two nights earlier. The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors never got on track against the Bucks and saw their lead on the idle New Jersey Nets slip to 3½ games.
Michael Redd led all scorers with 21 points and Andrew Bogut added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks (22-37), who won just their ninth road game of the season.
"We needed it bad," Redd said.
Charlie Bell chipped in with 19 points and former Raptor Charlie Villanueva added 14. Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors (32-27) with 16 points.
"They just beat us, we didn't make shots," coach Sam Mitchell said. "Twenty-eight (field goals made) or whatever - it's probably the worst shooting night we've had all year."
It was.
Toronto's previous low was 29 field goals against Portland on Dec. 10. Against the Bucks, the Raptors were 28-of-76 from the field (36.8 per cent) and took a season-high 31 three-point attempts, connecting on 10.
"Instead of penetrating in the zone and finding guys, we settled for the jump shot," said Raptors swingman Morris Peterson. "Sometimes you live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot."
It was a back-and-forth affair over the first three quarters, but the Bucks started strong in the fourth, with Villanueva hitting a three-pointer to put Milwaukee up 73-63. T.J. Ford hit a jumper to put Toronto within six points with 5:20 left, but Redd found his rhythm after that.
He hit two straight shots, including a 15-foot fadeaway with 3:06 left that put the Bucks up 86-73 and they coasted the rest of the way.
"We knew that if we could get them on their heels in the fourth quarter we might have an opportunity to win on the road," Redd said. "That confidence helped us pull it out in the end."
The Raptors, who play in Cleveland on Saturday night, entered the game having won three of four and 10 of their last 13. The Bucks shot 45.1 per cent, were out-rebounded 47-41, but had just 12 turnovers to Toronto's 19.
Chris Bosh opened the scoring on the Raptors' first possession by draining an open jumper from the top of the key. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and gave credit to Milwaukee's defence.
"This is the first time we've struggled with the zone," he said. "Usually we're pretty good against it because we've got those guys spotting up and making shots. Against Houston we shot almost 60 per cent. Our shots were kind of flat today."
Bargnani, who couldn't fly to his native Italy on Thursday to visit his ailing grandfather due to bad weather, entered at 5:08 of the first and hit a three-pointer on his first shot. Toronto led 22-21 after the opening period.
Maurice Williams hit a deep three with 3:28 left in the second to put Milwaukee up 40-38. But Bargnani, the first overall pick in last year's NBA draft, got the crowd into it with two minutes left in the half. He took a pass near the baseline and spun underneath the net before slamming it home to tie the score 42-42.
Villanueva answered with a bucket a few seconds later to put the Bucks back in front and Milwaukee took a 48-45 lead into the half. Bell opened the third with an easy layup to put the Bucks up by five. Neither team was able to pull away but Ruben Patterson hit a thundering dunk with 17.2 seconds left to give Milwaukee a 68-63 lead, which they held after three quarters.
Notes:-Bargnani plans to fly to Rome on Saturday, but should only miss one game . . . Villanueva got a nice hand when he entered the game late in the first . . . Toronto swingman Anthony Parker did not play due to a sprained right ankle. Bucks centre Dan Gadzuric (shoulder) and forward Bobby Simmons (heel) were also out with injuries . . . During a half-time ceremony, Raptors guard Jose Calderon was named an athlete ambassador for the Right To Play charity.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press