Raptors 86 - 92 Bucks
Final
  for this game

Bucks miss playoffs despite win

Apr 24, 2012 - 5:44 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Brandon Jennings scored 25 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks past the Toronto Raptors, 92-86, on Monday.

Ersan Ilyasova netted 19 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter, and grabbed 15 rebounds. Monta Ellis contributed 17 points for the Bucks, who swept the three-game season series.

Milwaukee entered the night with a slim chance of making the playoffs, but Philadelphia's win earlier Monday night officially eliminated the Bucks.

"We weren't able to close out games and that killed us," said Jennings. "We didn't finish games and that's the story. We lost some close games."

James Johnson paced the visitors with 22 points and 13 boards while Gary Forbes and Linas Kleiza each supplied 15 points off the bench, but the Raptors dropped their fourth straight.

"All and all, we were in the game until the end," said Toronto guard Ben Uzoh. "We fought, and we went down fighting."

The Bucks battled back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit, chipping away until they trailed by just 67-62 entering the final stanza.

That momentum continued into the fourth, as Jennings and Mike Dunleavy combined to score the first seven points of the frame to take their first lead since early in the second quarter.

Toronto took back the advantage with consecutive buckets and prevented the hosts from taking it again for several minutes.

But Jennings completed a three-point play to make it 80-79 in favor of Milwaukee at the 3:52 mark, Ellis knocked down a pair from the line after a missed dunk, and Jennings pushed the edge to four with a technical free-throw.

The Raptors got no closer than within three from that point forward.

Milwaukee shot just 36.4 percent from the field in the first quarter and 41 percent in the first half, as Toronto built a 48-43 lead at halftime.

Game Notes

Bucks guard Carlos Delfino sat with a groin injury and forward Luc Mbah a Moute did not play with a knee issue...The Bucks were also without forward Larry Sanders, who served the final game of a two-game suspension...Milwaukee shot 37.2 percent from the field, while Toronto converted at a 44.7 percent clip...Toronto concludes its season on Thursday against New Jersey...Milwaukee hosts Philadelphia on Wednesday before traveling to Boston for its final game of the year on Thursday.






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