Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory in rematch versus Toronto Raptors
By Dalton Sell
Second key to victory in rematch versus Toronto Raptors — Milwaukee Bucks need to contain Toronto’s backcourt
The Bucks’ issues on the defensive end have certainly not been helped with starting point guard Jrue Holiday out of the lineup. Milwaukee’s best guard defender has missed five straight games due to the league’s health and safety protocols, and the Raptors took advantage Tuesday night.
Kyle Lowry, who has proven to be a pain in Milwaukee’s neck for years, kept up with his old ways Tuesday night. Lowry scored 18 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. He grabbed six rebounds, six assists, and two steals in addition to his top-tier shooting night. The guard played just 21 minutes on the night after seemingly turning his ankle, but he made the most of his minutes without question.
Another well-known opponent with a history of pummeling the Bucks is Fred VanVleet, who also had himself a great night. The guard scored 33 points on the night, shooting 12-of-22 from the floor, including 5-of-12 from long-distance. He also stuffed the stat sheet with four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in his 38 minutes of burn, proving to be too much for Milwaukee defensively.
It remains to be seen whether Holiday will make his highly anticipated return to the lineup in tonight’s rematch, which would be a sizeable boost for the Bucks. And the same goes for Lowry, who is listed as questionable going into tonight’s clash.
Either way, Milwaukee’s reshaped backcourt will face another tough test keeping the Raptors’ guard tandem in check. The Bucks know all too well what kind of damage these two can inflict, and they will need to keep them contained.