Milwaukee Bucks: Recent History Against Toronto Raptors
By Adam McGee
2014-15 Season: Raptors Win 2-1
With the Bucks undergoing great change in the time since they were on the end of a Raptors sweep in the previous year, Milwaukee became much more competitive again as a team, and also to some extent against Toronto.
With Jason Kidd’s appointment as head coach and Jabari Parker having been selected as the second overall pick, the Bucks suddenly had a renewed energy if nothing else.
Bucks 82, Raptors 124; Nov. 21, 2014 – Air Canada Centre
If this was the only game from the 2014-15 season you had to draw upon, you wouldn’t believe that the Bucks had improved to be any better than a 15-win team.
Milwaukee gave up 71 first half points, while struggling to get anything of real significance going on the offensive end either. Jabari Parker paced the Bucks with 15 points, but with 20 points from Kyle Lowry further bolstered by 22 off the bench from Lou Williams, the Raptors picked up a comfortable win.
Raptors 92, Bucks 89; Jan. 19, 2015 – Bradley Center
Now well established as one of the NBA’s surprise packages of the season, the Bucks met the Raptors for the second time of the season as an above .500 team.
In a closely fought game, the Bucks relied on Brandon Knight to keep them close. Knight had 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, but would ultimately miss a wide open three to tie the game in the closing seconds.
Bucks 82, Raptors 75; Feb. 2, 2015 – Air Canada Centre
The Bucks and Raptors wrapped up their season series prior to the All-Star break and the Michael Carter-Williams trade, yet due to injury the Bucks got to take a look at how their team fared without Brandon Knight on this occasion.
While Khris Middleton put in a dominant 25-point showing to get the Bucks out in front, this game is best remembered for the way in which both Jerryd Bayless and Jared Dudley came up big to seal a win down the stretch and end their six-game losing streak against Toronto.