Raptors beat Bucks 114-106; key players for both teams sit

Chris Boucher scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Toronto Raptors defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-106 on Monday.

Though the meeting featured the top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings, both teams were missing key players.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP, missed the game after undergoing oral surgery. Bucks coach Mike Budehnolzer said Monday it was uncertain whether Antetokounmpo would play in the team’s final two seeding games Tuesday against the Washington Wizards and Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

For Toronto, Kyle Lowry sat out with a sore lower back, Serge Ibaka missed the game with a bruised right knee and Fred Van Vleet was out with a hyperextended right knee.

The Bucks already had clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for a second straight season, and defending NBA champion Toronto was locked into the No. 2 spot, so there was little to gain for either team.

Rookie Matt Thomas scored a season-high 22 points and Norman Powell added 21 for the Raptors.

Kyle Korver scored 19 points and Khris Middleton added 17 for the Bucks.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Toronto's Paul Watson elbowed Korver in the face on a drive to the hoop in the fourth quarter. It was called a Flagrant 1, and Korver ended up with a small cut on his face. Korver stayed in the game, made the free throws, then made a 3-pointer three seconds later. ... Eric Bledsoe had 11 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Raptors: Pascal Siakam scored 14 points on 5 for 16 shooting. ... Marc Gasol went scoreless in 20 minutes. ... Forced 19 turnovers.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Play the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

Raptors: Play the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

Image credits: AP