Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks Jan.25/08

The last time the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks met, it was just four games into the NBA season, the Bucks came out on the winning side of a blowout, and Toronto star Chris Bosh was held to a single point.

Friday night, that game was a distant memory, as Bosh poured in 32 points and the Raptors pounded Milwaukee 106-75, in a telling display of just how far they've come.

``That was early in the season, that was a different me, it was a different team back then,'' Bosh said afterwards.

The Raptors have also finally figured out how to turn homecourt in their favour, with Friday's win marking their fifth straight triumph at the Air Canada Centre.

``That was the topic of discussion in the first half of the season, we weren't really taking advantage of our home court and we need to do that now,'' Bosh said. ``We just have to defend our home court because we're playing pretty good on the road right now so we just have to keep it going.''

Carlos Delfino added 18 points for the Raptors (24-19), who won for the seventh time in nine games overall. Jose Calderon finished with 11 points and 12 assists. Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker _ on a perfect six-for-six shooting _ finished with 13 points apiece, as the Raptors won five straight at home for the first time since March 21-April 15 of last season.

The Raptors were coming off arguably their biggest win of the season, edging the league-leading Celtics 114-112 in Boston on Wednesday.

They rode the momentum into Friday's game, and survived some sloppy play in the early going, finally breaking the game open with a 19-0 run _ their longest of the season _ in the third quarter. Calderon drained a three with 0.9 seconds on the clock for good measure to send the Raptors into the fourth up 79-53.

``When you only give up three field goals in a quarter, you are going to win a lot of basketball games,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. ``We felt like we did not play well in the first half and we wanted to come in in the third quarter and be a little more aggressive.''

The Raptors stretched their lead to 28 points just three minutes into the final quarter, and then Bosh and Calderon took a seat for the rest of the game.

``Every now and then it's nice to have a game like that where you can get guys out and they can kind of relax,'' Mitchell said.

With Toronto's second unit on the floor for much of the fourth, the Raptors stretched their lead to 30 points on a pair of free throws by Kris Humphries with two minutes left as the Raptors cruised to victory.

Michael Redd and former Raptor Charlie Villanueva had 12 points each to top the Bucks (17-27), who were playing their fourth game in five nights.

The last time the two teams played, on Nov. 6, the Bucks routed the Raptors 112-85 in Milwaukee. Bosh had just a point, and the Raptors started combined for a woeful 28 points. The Raptors had 71 points between them Friday.

Bosh has been rounding into form over the past few weeks, and put in another fine performance Friday, shooting 12-for-19 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in an economical 35 minutes.

Bosh said he didn't gain extra motivation from the previous loss to the Bucks.

``I don't get too hard on myself, I just put that stuff behind me,'' Bosh said. ``I just wanted to play my game, I didn't want to get too caught up in that because I would have been forcing stuff and shooting bad shots.''

Calderon doled out more assists than the entire Bucks team combined, as the Raptors' ball movement played a major factor in the win. The Raptors had 23 assists to Milwaukee's 11.

Calderon's strong game may have helped his cause in the guard's bid to be named a reserve for the NBA all-star team. If not, the Spaniard's not sweating it.

``It's not my call,'' Calderon said. ``For me to be close (to making the all-star team) is really good, but it's up to the coaches. If I'm going, it's going to be a dream.''

The Raptors had another strong shooting night _ 51 per cent _ while holding the Bucks to 42. They also outrebounded the Bucks 42-36.

Bosh led the way with 10 points in the first, and the Raptors shot a decent 47 per cent in the quarter to lead 23-20 heading into the second.

Delfino connected on three shots from beyond the arc in the second quarter, his three with 1:31 left stretching Toronto's lead to six points. The Raptors led by eight before a three by Royal Ivey with 28 seconds on the clock cut Toronto's lead to 47-42 at the break.

The Raptors raced out on their 19-0 run early in the third, a turnaround jumper by Bosh putting Toronto up 76-51. Calderon's three with less than a second left put Toronto up by 26 to end the third.

NOTES: The Raptors visit Washington on Tuesday in the first game of a back-to-back series against the Wizards. They'll host the Wizards on Wednesday. . . NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas was at the game.

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• Jan.25/08

[tiggah12]

ur de bestt man..after every game i come here n watch it. thxxx

[jshing2006]

Thank you for the upload. Sweet revenge.

[fantasyfreak09]

their shoes rubbing the floor.

[shansanee]

Can anyone please tell me from where does the screeching sound comes from all the time in the game ? I don't have any idea about basketball. Like it though.

[eafanboyssuck]

like i said before. i think the bucks can make the playoffs... why?... because teams with high expectations are struggling. ie. the raps, sixers, pacers, wizards.. and teams are overachieving. ie, nets, heats, hawks, bucks... i mean i dont expect them to make another huge step.

[miRasJamal]

Not at all satisfied wit jus 1st Rd exit. Thats whats been wrong with management in past years with Mil. Happy to get there (EXCEPT IN 2001 WHEN WE WERE A MADE SHOT AWAY FROM PLYN LA IN 2001 FINALS)then back to mediocrity. New Coach. New GM. New Front office determined to bring back the days when coming to Mil was dreaded bcuz of a winning tradition (in 70s thru Late 80s). Trying to iron down plans for a new Arena. If all goes to plan, the Bucks will be back this year, and many more to come.

[miRasJamal]

No not cocky at all. The Bucks know that this year is about regaining some respect from the past few seasons of ineptitude. We are getting better progressively. You must not watch much tape of Mbah a Moute cuz hes already our best defender as a rookie, not to mention he's almost automatic from 15 wide open. We got Bogut, a top 6 Center, Redd and RJ, two of the best on the wings, CV who is competing for 6th man of the year, Ridnour, who aint the best scorer tho capable of runnin the team.

[eafanboyssuck]

raps are shopping JO for a wing... atleast we have some nice trade assets. what do u guys have for the future? luc richard bahamute? u got to be kidding me.... redd is washed up, luke RATnour is a joke (allstar...?) charlie v is another radman. i mean seriously u win couple of games and now u guys are so cocky... where is your franchise headed? the best you can do with your current roster is at best to a first round exit. ur satisfied with that? the raps might not get in, so what we just neeSF

[miRasJamal]

Spell It right Milwaukee! Remember Charlie V? VC? T mac? F Toronto!

[miRasJamal]

Since 1968 in Milwaukee. Been to T-town, its very nice, but what are yall really known for? O'neal's washed up, Bargnani's inconsistent at best, Calderon's ok but he's not going to defend anyone. And Bosh wont do it alone. Should have kept ex buck TJ and Coach of the Year, who was a former buck asst. Should I go on with all the things Toronto has done wrong? Can u Say T-mac and cuz VC? Toronto, it's going to be a rough year, ya lucky if you make playoffs in 8th seed. So sorry!

[eafanboyssuck]

lol gtfo troll this is the raps territory go back to making cheese or whatever the hell milwuakee does

[miRasJamal]

wrong muthaf**ker...Raptors couldnt hold on...cuz they weak. Milwaukee gonna raise eyebrows, just yu c.