Martin scores 27 as short-handed Raptors beat Bucks

Alijah Martin scored a career-high 27 points and Jamal Shead set a career high with 16 assists as the Toronto Raptors, playing without three regulars, beat the Milwaukee Bucks 121-107 in an NBA Cup game on Friday night.

The Raptors were missing Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, according to reports on the game. Martin, who had not scored more than nine points in any of his previous 30 NBA games, shot 9 for 11 from the floor and 6 for 7 from three-point range in Milwaukee. He is coming back from offseason knee surgery.

Shead, starting in place of Quickley, had 10 assists in the first half without a turnover and finished with 10 points and just one turnover. RJ Barrett also scored 27 points, while Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles each had 19.

Toronto trailed by as many as 15 points before taking control after halftime, outscoring Milwaukee 70-47 in the second half.

The win moved the Raptors to 5-4 on the season. The Bucks fell to 1-8.

The result follows a 125-118 win over the Clippers earlier this week and a 131-125 loss to the Lakers in late October.

Toronto’s attention now turns to the rest of its NBA Cup group schedule. The Canadian Press and The Associated Press reported on the game.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.