Trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by 20 points with the third-quarter clock ticking toward zero, the Toronto Raptors badly needed a spark. Enter Jodie Meeks, who hit a running three-pointer between multiple defenders as the buzzer sounded, ostensibly giving his team some much-needed life entering the final stanza.
Jodie Meeks lets it go to beat the Q3 buzzer! #WeTheNorth #NBAPlayoffs on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/PxBKkwlApP
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2019
It didn't last.
The Raptors would briefly cut their deficit to 15 points on dunks by Norman Powell within the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, but couldn't muster enough sustained momentum to come close to climbing out of a huge hole created in the first half. Milwaukee went on to beat Toronto 125-103, taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals as the series shifts to ScotiaBank Arena.
It was a true team effort for the Bucks on Friday, who saw six players score at least 12 points, including three off the bench. Giannis Antetokounmpo was dominant on both ends, finishing with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists on 10-of-20 shooting. Mike Budenholzer's team had 27 assists and just seven turnovers, too, numbers made all the more impressive considering Milwaukee shot just 13-of-41 from beyond the arc.
Kawhi Leonard, meanwhile, was the lone starter who showed up for Toronto, scoring 30 points on 18 shots. Powell was the only other Raptor in double-figures, with 14 points off the bench.
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