The seeding games inside the NBA’s Disney World bubble continued on Monday evening with a matchup between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, multiple stars were sitting out, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Lowry, which really diminished the importance of this game. In the end, the Toronto Raptors cruised to a 114-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The role players ran the show for Toronto. Chris Boucher threw down an incredible dunk and put up a career-high 25 points to lead the way, while seldom-used Matt Thomas came off the bench and took advantage of some extra minutes to pour in five 3-pointers en route to a career-high 22 points of his own. Norman Powell, meanwhile, went for 21.
Playing without Giannis, who had to take a trip to the bubble dentist, the Bucks weren’t exactly in playoff mode. Kyle Korver checked in off the bench to hit five triples and score 19 points, but it’s not a great sign when he’s the leading scorer at this point in his career. As a team, they shot just 39.3 percent from the field, and didn’t exactly lock in on the defensive end.
Here are three key takeaways from this game:
1. Potential ECF preview in name only
For the second straight season, these two teams finished with the best records in the Eastern Conference, and there’s a good chance they’ll meet in the Eastern Conference finals for a second straight season as well. This game, however, was a potential preview in name only.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was out after he had to see the dentist, while Kyle Lowry (back), Fred VanVleet (knee) and Serge Ibaka (knee) were all sidelined as well. If that wasn’t enough, Wesley Matthews hobbled off the floor after just a few minutes and didn’t return, while Pat Connaughton also left the game after hitting his head on the floor.
That’s six key players who missed either all or some of this game, and it’s pretty hard to draw any meaningful conclusions when that’s the case. Plus, both of these teams are already locked into their playoff spots, so they had nothing tangible to play for. All told, this was more like one of the scrimmage games than it was a playoff matchup.
2. Matt Thomas takeover
Unless you’re a diehard Raptors fan, you’d be forgiven for not knowing about Matt Thomas. The 26-year-old rookie played sparingly for Toronto this season, and the fact that he averaged four points on 10 minutes per game was honestly a bit deceiving considering he only played in 39 contests.
But with both Lowry and VanVleet out for this game, Nick Nurse called on Thomas to fill some minutes in the backcourt. He certainly took advantage, coming out on fire and basically forcing Nurse to leave him in for 37 minutes. Prior to this game, he had never played more than 22.
Thomas finished the night with 22 points and five 3-pointers, both of which were also career bests, and was a team-high plus-13 in the eight-point win. He earned his spot in the league because of his ridiculous shooting, so it wasn’t a surprise that he put it on display against the Bucks, hitting some really tough shots from downtown.
3. Injury concerns for Bucks
The Bucks have not really found their rhythm so far in the bubble, and it would be good for them if they can figure some things out in the last few seeing games, but the main goal for them at this point is just making sure they’re healthy for the playoffs. To that point, Monday didn’t go so well for them.
Giannis was out, but that was just a tooth thing he had to deal with, and shouldn’t impact him longterm. However, just a few minutes into the game, Wesley Matthews hobbled off the floor, and didn’t return. Then, late in the second half, Pat Connaughton took a tough fall and slammed the back of his head on the court.
According to head coach Mike Budenholzer, Matthews had a bit of discomfort in his thigh and groin area, and the team is “hopeful that he will be OK,” but they’ll need to see how he responds tomorrow. As for Connaughton, Budenholzer said the “early reports are that he’s fine,” but like Matthews, the next few days will really tell the story.
It seems like the Bucks luckily escaped any serious problems, and, hopefully, that will continue throughout the rest of the week.
Montreal police say they’ve arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.
Police say that on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 a person entered a downtown Montreal hotel and stole numerous official items and clothing “from a major golf tournament.”
The tournament is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in the city’s L’Île-Bizard–Ste-Geneviève’s borough through Sunday.
Police say a 46-year-old man was arrested in downtown Montreal on Thursday and was arraigned Friday on a number of charges including theft.
The accused remains detained until his next court appearance.
Police say the investigation is ongoing to locate the stolen golf items and apparel, adding that anyone with information is invited to come forward.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are expected to confirm today that Vince Carter’s No. 15 will be the first number to be retired by the NBA franchise.
Carter will attend an MLSE Foundation event this afternoon at the renovated Vince Carter Court at a park in the city’s northwest end.
Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri will also be on hand along with some current players and city officials.
Reports this week said that Canada’s lone NBA team would honour Carter on Nov. 2 when Toronto plays the Sacramento Kings at Scotiabank Arena.
Carter, an eight-time all-star, played parts of seven seasons with the Raptors. He was named NBA rookie of the year in 1999 and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.
He was the Raptors’ first superstar and is credited for raising the profile of the team and igniting enthusiasm for basketball across Canada.
Carter guided the Raptors to the Eastern Conference semifinal in 2001. Toronto had a chance to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 but Carter’s shot at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced out.
He asked for a trade in 2004 and was dealt to New Jersey in a mid-season deal that saw the Raptors receive little in return. The Nets, who are now based in Brooklyn, plan to retire Carter’s number in January.
Carter played 22 seasons in the NBA before retiring after the 2019-20 season. He’ll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame next month.
The Raptors are celebrating their 30th anniversary this season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 58th home run, going deep for the fifth straight game to help the New York Yankees wrap up their second AL East title in three years with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Giancarlo Stanton had four RBIs that included his 27th homer, Alex Verdugo also homered and Gerrit Cole outpitched Corbin Burnes in a possible postseason preview. Judge and Stanton homered in the same game for the 14th time this year, tying Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in 1961 for the most in Yankees history.
New York assured itself a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series starting Oct. 5.
Baltimore, which clinched a postseason berth by winning Tuesday night’s opener of the three-game series, will be in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.
Stanton homered in the second to put the Yankees ahead and hit a three-run double in a six-run sixth.
Judge hit a two-run homer in the seventh against Bryan Baker and has 144 RBIs, the most in the major leagues since Ryan Howard’s 146 in 2008. Judge matched his career best by homering in five consecutive games.
Making his last start before the playoffs, Cole (8-5) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to 3.41. He struck out Anthony Santander with a 98.1 mph fastball that ended the eighth after plate umpire David Rackley called a ball on the previous pitch, a knuckle-curve that appeared to be just above the strike zone. Cole glared as the umpire as the pitcher walked back to the dugout.
Cole was given a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout with two outs in the seventh and tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,022.
Burnes (15-9) allowed two hits in five innings, one walk and nine strikeouts — including eight on cutters. Burnes came out after 69 pitches and is likely to start the Orioles’ postseason opener on Tuesday. He had a 1.20 ERA in five September starts.
Stanton lofted a slider at the bottom of the strike zone into the left-field seats after missing badly at a slider on the prior pitch.
Austin Wells, in a 4-for-42 slide, forced in a run when he walked with the bases loaded against Cionel Pérez. Stanton drove the next pitch on one hop to the wall in right-center for a 5-1 lead. Stanton has 72 RBIs after hitting 6 for 18 with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs in his last five games.
Anthony Rizzo added a two-run single against Baker.
Emmanuel Rivera hit a ninth-inning sacrifice fly for the Orioles.
UP NEXT
Orioles: LHP Cade Povich (2-9, 5.59) starts a series opener at Minnesota on Friday, when LHP Pablo López (15-9, 4.11) will be on the mound for the Twins.
Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.98), 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA since the All-Star break. starts Friday’s series opener against Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8, 4.14).
