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Three takeaways from Raptors' key Game 3 win over Bucks

The Toronto Raptors' role players stepped up in Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Here are three takeaways from the win.

By Opta
Kawhi Leonard top scored with 30 points

New York, May 20: The Toronto Raptors avoided going down 3-0 to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday (May 19), but only just.

Toronto topped Milwaukee 118-112 in double overtimeToronto topped Milwaukee 118-112 in double overtime

Here are three takeaways from the Raptors' statement win.

Toronto's role players figured it out

Kawhi Leonard has been carrying the Raptors for some time, but he got some extra help in Game 3. It came from Marc Gasol, Norman Powell and Pascal Siakam, who were instrumental in Toronto's victory.

The trio accounted for just 51 combined points in the first two games of the series. But, they rebounded on Sunday (May 19), posting 60 points between them.

Gasol realised he needed to be more aggressive and stop passing up open looks. After tallying just eight points through the first two games, he managed to finish with 16 points and four made three-pointers.

It is clear Toronto will need similar levels of productivity moving forward to keep their season alive.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was swarmed relentlessly

Antetokounmpo has averaged more than 37 points per game in his past three road playoff games, but Toronto had a surprise for him in Scotiabank Arena.

Milwaukee's star was blitzed in the paint repeatedly and was held to 12 points on five-of-16 shooting. It was clear the Raptors' plan was to force him and others to shoot from the perimeter, and it worked out.

Antetokounmpo went on to foul out in the second overtime of his underwhelming performance.

The Raptors are getting virtually nothing from Danny Green

Green is not having a good series against the Bucks

The sharpshooter has made just four field goals in the Eastern Conference finals so far. While he was one of the NBA's most prolific scorers from behind the arc in 2018-19, Green is shooting 28.6 per cent from three-point range against Milwaukee.

But he did hit a big-time three-pointer in overtime when his team needed it.

Green is an excellent defensive player and has recorded five steals in the series, but Toronto cannot afford empty minutes offensively. That was made evident when they left him off the court down the stretch in regulation.

Story first published: Monday, May 20, 2019, 9:28 [IST]
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