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Published Nov 04, 2025 • 4 minute read
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo drives at Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes last night. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo drives at Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes last night. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
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No one should dismiss a three-game win streak or even attempt to disparage the way the Raptors have forged this mini ascent.
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At the same time, perspective is required.
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The team’s first of three wins came against a depleted Cleveland Cavaliers team, the second against an inferior Memphis Grizzlies side minus franchise player Ja Morant.
And the third, which was produced Tuesday night, came against a Milwaukee Bucks team playing the second game of a back to back.
Kudos to the Raptors for pouncing on vulnerable opponents.
Against the Bucks, the Raptors imposed their will early by jumping out to a 39-point first quarter and they would be unrelenting.
Jakob Poeltl was back in the starting lineup at centre, though he was under a minutes restriction having battled through lower back stiffness.
The ball moved freely on offence, the Raptors were more connected on defence and overall played with a greater sense of purpose and force.
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If this style of play can be sustained, good things await a Raptors team that remains a work in progress.
But progress is being made and that’s never a bad thing, even when matched up against inferior teams or against a Bucks team that never had their legs under them.
The following are three takeaways from a 128-100 win as the Raptors improved to 4-4 on the season, a night that would see Toronto record 26 assists on 36 makes while scoring 105 points through three quarters in redefining the term offensive efficiency.
1. Out Of Hand
Despite the 73 first-half points and despite the double-digit lead at the break, there were concerns on the status of Scottie Barnes, who was forced to leave the game in the second quarter in obvious discomfort holding his left hand.
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In fact, he had to stop mid-way up the tunnel that leads to the Raptors locker room.
X-rays were taken and they came back negative as a huge sigh of relief could be felt.
Barnes was diagnosed with a left-thumb strain.
When the second half tipped off, Barnes was back on the court with the starting unit.
Barnes has been very good this early in the season, showing encouraging signs at both ends of the floor.
It goes without saying that the Raptors can ill afford to be without Barnes for any stretch.
He has dealt with injury setbacks in the past.
When Barnes used his left hand to score at the rim with under five minutes remaining in the game, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers began to empty his bench knowing the game was officially out of reach.
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2. Bucks Stop Here
As valuable as Barnes is to the Raptors, the value Giannis Antetokounmpo brings to the Bucks is immeasurable.
He is the franchise.
Antetokounmpo entered Tuesday listed as probable.
A night earlier, his buzzer beater lifted the Bucks to their win over the Indiana Pacers, a victory that improved Milwaukee’s record to 5-2.
The Pacers pounded Antetokounmpo by taking some hard fouls.
At one point, Antetokounmpo had to collect himself as he grabbed his left knee.
When the Bucks paid a visit to Scotiabank Arena in the Raptors’ home opener on the same night as Game 1 of the World Series, Antetokounmpo poured in 31 points, recorded 20 rebounds and dished off seven assists in Milwaukee’s 122-116 win.
The Bucks aren’t equipped to flourish when their best player who happens to be one of the top-three players in basketball isn’t on the floor.
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Back-to-back games are never easy, made even more difficult when forced to deal with knee discomfort.
With 3:30 left in the third quarter, Antetokounmpo picked up his third foul.
The Bucks challenged the call, but it stood.
Antetokounmpo’s night was limited to playing 24 minutes.
He did score 22 points.
Overall, he was not the same and when Antetokounmpo is not the same player the Bucks are at best an average team, which is to take away nothing from the Raptors.
3. High I.Q.
Immanuel Quickley may have played his finest half as a Raptor in the opening 24 minutes.
When he’s on his game, Quickley is playing with a certain bounce to his game that is second to none.
When he’s making shots, establishing a pace and protecting the basketball, he looks the part of a floor general.
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The problem is that Quickley hasn’t looked the part on most nights.
He did Tuesday.
His game isn’t suited to handle the role of a true point guard whose primary duty is facilitate as opposed to create.
Some will argue he’s best when playing off the ball.
When he’s playing the way he did in the opening half, Quickley can play on the ball and off it, in transition and in the half court.
Toronto was clearly the better team with Quickley emerging as the best player on the floor.
He wasn’t as dominant in the second half when Toronto played most of the final 24 minutes knowing Milwaukee would not present any challenge.
Up Next
The Raptors will get a brief reprieve from the grind of a long season before resuming play Friday night in Atlanta in an NBA Cup group stage meeting, the first of a back-to-back set that will take the Raptors to Philadelphia for a Saturday night tip as part of the team’s five-game road trip.
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