By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points and the Toronto Raptors held on for a 92-89 victory Thursday night over the Milwaukee Bucks to take their first-round playoff series in six games.
Jason Terry’s 3 with 3:06 left gave the Bucks an 80-78 lead, completing an unlikely comeback from the 25-point deficit with 5:16 left in the third quarter. The Raptors looked as if they were on cruise control after DeMarre Carroll’s 3 gave them the 71-46 advantage. Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded the second-half rally for Milwaukee. He had 34 points which is a new playoffs career high. He also had 9 rebounds, 3 assists and he played 47 minutes.
He also cut the lead of the Raptors to one (90-89) with 3.1 seconds to play. If he had taken a three points shot, then he could have tied the game.
Rebounding from 2-1 series deficit and an embarrassing 27-point loss in Game 3, the Raptors will face Cleveland a year after losing to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals in six games. Spaniard Serge Ibaka had 7 points and 11 rebounds for the winners, while Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas added 6 points and 5 rebounds.