The Associated Press
Genaro C. Armas
MILWAUKEE–No Giannis Antetokounmpo, no problem for the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the way they’re shooting from the three-point line, the Bucks look like they can beat just about anybody in the NBA.
Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 19 points as the Bucks cruised without the injured Antetokounmpo to beat the Toronto Raptors 124-109 last night in a showdown of the NBA’s last undefeated teams.
Milwaukee improved to 7-0 in a marquee matchup that lost some lustre with Antetokounmpo in concussion protocol and Raptors’ star Kawhi Leonard sitting out to rest.
The Bucks’ start to the season matches the 1971-72 club for best in franchise history.
Milwaukee made up for Antetokounmpo’s absence with another strong showing from the perimeter, with Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe chipping in 17 points each.
“Of course we have more confidence when [Antetokounmpo] is on the floor,” Brogdon said.
“But we have a lot of confidence even when he’s not on the floor due to the system and due to the confidence that [coach Mike Budenholzer] gives us.”
Serge Ibaka scored 30 points for Toronto, which had its franchise-best 6-0 start snapped.
Pascal Siakam added 22.
They still couldn’t keep up with the Bucks, who eclipsed the 110-point mark for the seventh-straight game even without the high-flying Antetokounmpo, who averages 25.0 points and 14.2 rebounds.
Ilyasova, starting for Antetokounmpo, helped pick up the slack–setting the tone with an active night all over the floor and adding a team-high 10 rebounds.
The Bucks didn’t stop moving when they had the ball, either, especially at the three-point line.
Milwaukee’s 19 three-pointers tied a franchise record which previously was reached just three days ago against Minnesota.
“They dictated the tempo of the game tonight,” Raptors’ guard Kyle Lowry said.
It was the first game in NBA history between teams with a record of 6-0 or better, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Budenholzer wants his team to hoist three-pointers, and an 11-3 run in the fourth quarter sparked by two “threes” from Khris Middleton helped turn a 15-point advantage into a 113-90 lead with 7:39 left.
The philosophy calls for “threes” and proper spacing among the five players on the floor to help create 1-on-1 opportunities for Antetokounmpo.
It’s working without him, too. Seven players scored in double figures last night.
“When they see advantages, they are seeing opportunities within the confines of what we do and still trying to play unselfishly,” Budenholzer said.
Raptors’ coach Nick Nurse, meanwhile, said his team needed better help defence to stop the Bucks’ cuts and straight-line drives.
When the Bucks weren’t taking it straight to the hoop, they were kicking the ball out for perimeter shots.
“It’s a little difficult with the five-out spacing to get adjusted,” Nurse noted.
“It’s not easy to guard the ball 1-on-1 in this league. It gets harder all the time.”
Elsewhere in the NBA, Minnesota topped the L.A. Lakers 124-120, Philadelphia beat Atlanta 113-92, Portland downed Indiana 103-93, New York bounced Brooklyn 115-96, and Sacramento upended Miami 123-113.
Golden State bombed Chicago 149-124, San Antonio beat Dallas 113-108, and Denver downed New Orleans 116-111.
