Milwaukee Bucks Preview: Game 5 at Toronto Raptors
By Ti Windisch
Major Key For Milwaukee: Start Strong
The Bucks and Raptors were tied at the end of the first quarter of Game 4, and the Raptors led by three points at the end of the first quarter of Game 2. Toronto won both of those games.
Meanwhile, the Bucks led by eight points at the end of the first quarter of Game 1, and had a whopping 20-point lead at the end of the first in Game 3. Milwaukee won both of those games.
Correlation doesn’t necessarily equal causation, but in this series it does make sense that the Bucks benefit greatly from starting strong. The Raptors are one of, if not the, best fourth quarter teams in the NBA according to net rating.
If the Bucks stumble out of the gate, it’s very hard for Milwaukee to get back into the game later. Just as the Bucks have made it difficult for the Raptors to come back late in games, Toronto has managed to do just enough to prevent Milwaukee from making late runs to take games back.
There haven’t been many comebacks in this series. Whichever team has managed to build up a big lead first has typically held it. For the Bucks to come into Toronto and win on Monday, they might need to be the first team to grab the lead.