The Milwaukee Bucks' inability to foul the Toronto Raptors in the waning moments of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals sealed the former's win, and a wide open Pascal Siakam throwdown.
With 23.3 seconds left in the game, Toronto led by three, 100-97. Milwaukee was already in the bonus. Raptors center Marc Gasol inbounded the ball to Kawhi Leonard in the backcourt. Three Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Malcolm Brogdon, and Eric Bledsoe – immediately swarm Leonard. They failed to foul him.
Leonard finds an open Kyle Lowry near the midcourt line. Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe quickly converge on Lowry, hoping to give up the foul and send the Raptors to the free throw line.
Instead, Lowry spots an open Gasol near the spot where he inbounded the basketball. The Toronto center then feeds Siakam for the easy slam. His dunk put the Raptors ahead to stay at 102-97.
The Bucks don't get the foul on Lowry and Siakam gets the easy 2… pic.twitter.com/AHjLeQ0a0S
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) May 24, 2019
The win capped off Toronto's comeback from an early 10-point first-quarter deficit. Not only that, but the Raptors have beaten the Bucks three games in a row to take a crucial 3-2 lead.
Toronto is now in a position to make its first NBA Finals appearance. The series shifts back to the Raptors' Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. For Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors, there's no better place to secure an NBA Finals stint than at home.
As for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, they have one last chance to extend their season. Their hopes of winning a second NBA championship rest on the outcome of Game 6 on May 25.
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