• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Raptors hope to take advantage of shorthanded Bucks

Jan 30, 2009 - 11:14 AM Milwaukee (22-27) at Toronto (19-28) 7:00 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- As the Toronto Raptors are getting healthy, the Milwaukee Bucks are just beginning to deal with a devastating loss.

The Raptors will be looking to push their winning streak to four games when they face the Bucks on Friday.

Toronto was struggling through a seven-game losing streak in the middle of the month but has not lost since point guard Jose Calderon returned to the lineup at Chicago on January 23. The Spaniard has shown no rust, averaging 18.7 points while handing out 29 assists and committing just two turnovers.

The Raptors also got center Jermaine O'Neal back on January 21, opening up more space in the front court for top scoring threats Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh, who was named a reserve on the Eastern Conference All-Star team on Thursday.

Toronto escaped with a 107-106 win at New Jersey on Wednesday as Calderon collected 17 points, 11 assists and three steals.

The Bucks are looking for their first win since star guard Michael Redd was lost for the season on Saturday with a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. Starting center Andrew Bogut has also been out for the past two weeks with back spasms and guard Luke Ridnour suffered a concussion on Wednesday.

Charlie Villanueva took over the bulk of the scoring responsibilities for Milwaukee on Wednesday, finishing with 28 points, but the Bucks fell, 107-99, to the last-place Indiana Pacers.

The teams have split two meetings this season, with Milwaukee taking the January 3 contest, 107-97, behind 35 points from Redd.