NBA: Bucks squander big lead, still beat Raptors in OT
Pat Connaughton #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates a basket by Grayson Allen #12 in the final moments of overtime in their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 4, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. Cole Burston/Getty Images/AFP
Grayson Allen hit a 3-pointer with 11.6 seconds left in overtime and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks overcame a big Toronto Raptors comeback to earn a 104-101 victory Wednesday night.
The Raptors went on a 28-7 surge in the fourth surge to tie the game at 97 on Gary Trent Jr.’s 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play in regulation.
Article continues after this advertisementGiannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks, who had lost their five previous games to the Raptors.
“You can’t do it by yourself. You’ve got to trust your teammates, make plays for them,” Antetokounmpo said.
“I’m trying to be aggressive… but at the end of the day everybody is sucking me in and the guy is open. That last play Grayson was wide open and I was able to get him the ball.”
Article continues after this advertisementAllen had 16 points for Milwaukee. Pat Connaughton added 15, Bobby Portis had 14 points and 12 rebounds, MarJon Beauchamp scored 10 points and Brook Lopez had nine points and 19 rebounds.
Fred VanVleet had 28 points and 12 assists for the Raptors, who opened a six-game home stand. They have lost four of their last five games. Trent added 22 points, Scottie Barnes had 19, O.G. Anunoby had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Pascal Siakam scored 11 points.
GRAYSON ALLEN!!! pic.twitter.com/FfmChSk8k4
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 5, 2023
Milwaukee led by four points entering the fourth quarter.
Antetokounmpo made two free throws with 7:26 to play in the fourth quarter, putting the Bucks ahead by 14 points.
Connaughton’s 3-pointer bumped the lead to 16 with 5:29 to play in the fourth. Lopez made a dunk with 3:50 left to boost the lead to 21.
VanVleet hit two 3-pointers, trimming the lead to 15, and the rally was on.
“We can’t put ourselves in that position,” Antetokounmpo said. “We were up 15 with two minutes left. They came back, tied the game, sent it to overtime.
“But I think we did a good job keeping our composure and executing in the overtime — finding open spots and defending — and we were able to get the win.”
Milwaukee led 13-12 after one quarter. The Bucks shot 5-for-24 from the field in the first quarter and the Raptors shot 2-for-23.
The Bucks scored the first eight points of the second quarter. Connaughton’s 3-pointer stretched the lead to 11 with 7:24 to play in the quarter.
Trent’s 3-pointer tied the game with 2:53 to go. The Bucks led 39-38 at halftime.
Milwaukee scored the first six points of the third quarter. VanVleet’s 3-pointer tied the game at 53 with 4:28 left in the quarter.
Milwaukee scored the next six points. VanVleet cut the lead to four with two free throws with 1:08 remaining in the third. The Bucks led 63-59 after the third quarter.
Jrue Holiday (illness), Joe Ingles (return to competition reconditioning), George Hill (illness) and Khris Middleton (knee) did not play for Milwaukee.
