Raptors and Spurs Advance in NBA Playoffs

The Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs each won Game 6 of their NBA opening round playoff series on April 27th.

In Milwaukee, Toronto blew a 25 point lead to the upstart Bucks, but held on in a thrilling finish to win 92-89 behind a 32 point performance by DeMar DeRozan. The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 34 points. The game was essentially won at the free throw line; Toronto was 19-23 from the line, while Milwaukee was 18-28.

After years of muddling through the NBA, the Bucks put it together at the end of the regular season to reach the playoffs. A young team with a good smattering of veterans to show the way, the Bucks have something to build on after playing well against the playoff seasoned Raptors. Milwaukee would benefit from the addition of a big, physical player or two to match the physicality of some of their opponents (like Toronto) but they are on the right track. The Raptors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.

In Memphis, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Grizzlies 103-96 to win that series. The Spurs, the #2 seed in the Western Conference, will now play the third seeded Houston Rockets in an Interstate 10 freeway series for Round 2.