Bucks 105 - 99 Raptors
Final
  for this game

Bucks and Raptors meet at ACC

Feb 8, 2012 - 3:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Bucks try to avoid a fourth straight loss this evening when they open a brief two-game road trip against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

The Bucks played hard on Tuesday to no avail, as they overcame a 21- point deficit, but eventually fell to the Phoenix Suns, 107-105.

Drew Gooden had 25 points for the Bucks, while Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Dunleavy each tallied 17 points, with the former adding 12 rebounds.

Milwaukee put itself in such a large hole, as it allowed a season worst-tying 67 points in the first half. The Bucks actually held a four-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Phoenix fought back and grabbed the lead for good on a Steve Nash jumper with five seconds remaining.

The Bucks were unable to get a shot off as time expired.

"We just need to come out with a better sense of urgency from the start," said Dunleavy. "Most of our games the last week or so, we've been real bad to get going, to get off the jump. Hopefully we can get off to a good start and play a good four quarters (Wednesday)."

The Raptors, meanwhile, suffered their second straight loss on Monday in Washington, as the Wizards beat them in overtime, 111-108.

It was a miraculous feat that the Raptors even got that game to overtime, as they trailed by 10 after the opening period, by 15 at the half and found themselves down by 18 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

"That was a bad exhibition of basketball. We had an unprofessional start," coach Dwane Casey said. "You have to go off on them at halftime to get them to play. It shouldn't have to ever get to that, and that's why I was disappointed, even with the second-half comeback."

Jerryd Bayless and Linas Kleiza led the way for the Raptors, netting 30 points apiece. DeMar DeRozan added 15 but it wasn't enough for Toronto, which has now lost four of its last five.

"We were not able to make plays at the end, but it's the effort thing," said Kleiza about his team falling behind early. "We just have to come out harder."

Toronto is still without Andrea Bargnani, who is nursing a strained left calf.

Milwaukee swept the four-game season series with the Raptors last season and has won six of seven and eight of the last 10 overall matchups. However, the Bucks have dropped six of their last 10 north of the border.






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