Hot-shooting Bucks too much for Raptors
Updated: 2007-11-07 12:56
MILWAUKEE - Desmond Mason was 10-for-10 from the field and scored 21 points as the Milwaukee Bucks cruised to a 112-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
 Milwaukee Bucks center Yi Jianlian of China shoots over Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, in Milwaukee. [Agencies] |
Milwaukee, a team that didn't shoot 60 percent or better from the field in a game all last season, shot 60.3 percent and held Toronto star Chris Bosh to one point.
The Bucks were without coach Larry Krystkowiak, who went to the hospital after his wife, Jan, went into labor with twins Tuesday afternoon. Bucks assistant Tony Brown coached the team in Krystkowiak's absence and presided over an offensive outburst that started early and never really let up.
For a while, it looked like the Bucks were going to have their best shooting night in more than two decades. Milwaukee was shooting over 65 percent with 5 minutes left in the game, but got sloppy at the end. Milwaukee hasn't shot 65 percent or higher for a game since a victory over Sacramento on Dec. 15, 1985.
Toronto's five starters combined for 28 points. Juan Dixon led the Raptors with 20 points.
Krystkowiak, in his first full year as the Bucks' head coach after replacing Terry Stotts in the middle of last season, was there for the birth of his twin daughters at 7:42 p.m.
By then, the Bucks had the game under control.
With Bosh limited to 10 minutes in the first half after committing two early fouls, the Bucks took their first double-figure lead with a 14-0 run late in the first quarter.
Milwaukee led 59-39 after a three-point play by Andrew Bogut with 2:36 left in the second quarter. Toronto then went on a 9-2 run to close within 13, but Milwaukee's Mo Williams hit a jumper at the horn to give the Bucks a 63-48 lead.
Bosh's only point came on a free throw with 5:22 left in the second quarter.
Milwaukee shot 67.5 from the field in the first half, including 76.2 percent in the first quarter.
Milwaukee went on a 17-3 run in the third quarter that included six points by Bucks rookie Yi Jianlian and was capped by Mason's 10th straight field goal attempt without a miss.
Toronto did not allow an opponent to shoot over 60 percent last season.
Michael Redd added 17 points for the Bucks, while Williams scored 13, Yi and Bogut both had 12 and Bobby Simmons added 11.
Bogut had 11 rebounds.
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