NBA Preview from The Sports Network
Sunday, January 13th
(All times Eastern)
Milwaukee Bucks (18-17) at Toronto Raptors (14-22), 1 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Bucks aim to continue their recent dominance
of the Toronto Raptors when the two teams clash Sunday from Air Canada Centre.
Milwaukee won all three meetings with Toronto last season and is unbeaten in
the previous seven matchups between the Eastern Conference inhabitants. The
Bucks are 11-2 in the past 13 contests in this series and will try to win
their fifth in a row north of the border.
The Bucks could use an easy opponent since they have lost five of their last
seven games overall and had a two-game winning streak stopped with Friday's
103-87 setback versus the Detroit Pistons. Brandon Jennings and Beno Udrih
both had 15 points and Monta Ellis ended with 13 points and five assists.
"It was our third game in four nights, and it seemed like our legs got a
little heavy in the third quarter," Bucks interim head coach Jim Boylan said.
The Bucks, who were outscored by a lopsided 33-11 margin in the third quarter,
made just 39.6 percent from the field and shot a paltry 1-for-16 from 3-point
range. Jennings had the lone 3-pointer (1-for-4) and has hit at least one in
23 straight games. Carlos Delfino had a 26-game run during the 2009-10 season.
Udrih has four double-digit scoring efforts in his last five games.
Milwaukee ranks first in the NBA in blocks per game with 7.77 and has swatted
10 or more shots in four games in a row. It will also visit the Lakers, Suns
and Blazers on the four-game trek and owns an 8-8 record as the guest.
Toronto will put the finishing touches on a season-long six-game homestand
Sunday and is 3-2 so far on the stand.
The Raptors posted their second straight win and 10th in 13 tries with a 99-78
victory over the Charlotte Bobcats Friday. Alan Anderson registered a game-
best 16 points and Jose Calderon ended with 15 points and six assists. Amir
Johnson and Ed Davis contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Toronto,
which is 10-7 at Air Canada Centre this season.
"They play solid basketball," Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap said of Toronto. "They
share the ball freely and they were able to find the paint. That's a
tremendous coach over there and he stresses defense."
Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan was limited to six points versus the Bobcats, but
is averaging 14.8 points per game during the homestand. Forward Linas Kleiza
is doubtful for Sunday due to a sore right knee.
01/13 10:33:17 ET

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