Raptors finish at .500 with win over Bucks in nothing game

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It was about what you would expect from the final game of the season with nothing on the line.

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The Raptors started two of five starters while resting Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby. The visiting Bucks started none of its regular starters.

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Nick Nurse went through 11 of the 12 guys on his bench. Mike Budenholzer got to all 10 of the Bucks that dressed in the game, none playing more than 30 or less than 18.

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It was a game played because the schedule said it had to be played and nothing more.

The Raptors came out on the right side of things by a 121-105 score, evening their record at 41-41 in as up and down a season as we have seen in some time.

For the Raptors it was an opportunity to get the likes of Gary Trent Jr., coming back from some back issues, and Precious Achiuwa, who is regaining his form, a little more game confidence as they get set to attempt and make their way through the play-in tournament and into the actual playoffs.

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“Yeah, it was all right,” Nurse summed up. “That certainly had to be one of the main goals other than winning, to get Gary untracked and he came out ready to go and got a bunch of good looks and (did) good job.

“I thought Precious with his rebounding played with good energy as well,” Nurse said. “Malachi (Flynn) I thought was very good today. Really just solid and fast out there. I thought he really kind of pushed the tempo a little bit. It was nice to see Will Barton make a few shots as well, so, not bad.”

Toronto will need to defeat the Chicago Bulls at home on Wednesday and then follow that up with another one in either Atlanta or Miami depending on who loses the 7-8 game.

Trent Jr. and Achiuwa looked like they got the most from the game with the former going 4-for-7 from three in 27 minutes for a 23-point night.

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Achiuwa stayed in this one for 28 minutes and put up a healthy 14 points and 13 rebounds. Achiuwa has been building back up for a number of games now and seems to be peaking at the right time for a Raptors team that is going to need all of its rotation in top form if they are to get into the actual playoffs.

If they do, it will be a rested and much different looking Bucks team than the one they faced Sunday afternoon that they will see in that first round 1 vs. 8 matchup.

Most of the Bucks the Raptors will see in fact didn’t even make the trip to Toronto for the season finale, Giannis Antetokounmpo being one of those.

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Among those that did show up and expected to play a role in what is sure to be a deep run included Bobby Portis, who had 16 points in 18 minutes.

Jevon Carter, the backup to Jrue Holiday who didn’t make the trip north, played 20 minutes with six points and five assists. He too will be part of that playoff rotation.

Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder as well as Wesley Mathews and Goran Dragic also saw minutes in the game and could be part of the back end of that Bucks rotation as they go deep into the second season.

Dragic, who was already here once earlier this year as a member of the Bulls, continues to be booed every time he touches the ball in Toronto despite the fact that it was the Raptors who decided to part ways with Dragic when the latter arrived as part of the sign and trade involving Kyle Lowry a year ago.

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