The Milwaukee Bucks faced another game without Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the absence of their two-time MVP made every possession critical. Missing Giannis for the fifth straight outing as he recovers from a right calf strain, the Bucks knew that late-game execution would be key. That pressure became apparent in the closing minutes, as they fell 111–105 to the Toronto Raptors in a contest marked by short scoring bursts and missed opportunities.
The Bucks trimmed the deficit to three in the fourth quarter but never managed to take the lead. The momentum teetered before fading. When The Athletic’s Eric Nehm asked what prevented the Bucks’ comeback from turning into a win, Doc Rivers delivered a candid explanation.
The Bucks were able to cut the Raptors' lead down to three in the fourth quarter, but they never got closer than that. What kept them from coming all the way back and grabbing a lead?
Doc Rivers: pic.twitter.com/gbfL8WwFBW
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) December 19, 2025
“Both ends, really. After the first quarter, I thought defensively, we were pretty good, holding teams to 26 points, you can live with that. I just thought we struggled scoring the entire night,” said the Bucks head coach.
“I didn’t think we got to a lot of next actions. Their switching bothered us a little bit. I thought we got stagnant and we didn’t make shots either.”
The Bucks struggles continue without Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) cheers the team from the bench in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics while recovering from an injury at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Bucks struggled early, falling behind by as many as 11 points in the first half before sparking a brief rally. Bobby Portis hit a three in the third quarter to put Milwaukee ahead 59–57. The crowd came alive, and the comeback seemed promising, but the momentum quickly slipped away.
Milwaukee relied heavily on Portis off the bench, as he delivered 24 points and a steady burst of energy. Still, open looks were few and second-chance opportunities evaporated. These problems have defined their season. Milwaukee ranks 24th in scoring, 11th in assists, and last in rebounds. They also sit near the bottom in steals and blocks, limiting fast-break chances and momentum swings.
Dec 18, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Doc Rivers and the Bucks keep searching for answers, but their efforts keep coming up short. With Giannis sidelined, Milwaukee has struggled to stay competitive, dropping to 11–17 and falling to 11th place after losing 12 of their last 15 games. The team’s continued struggles raise the question of how long they survive through the season.