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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- The Toronto Raptors relied on their bench to get
back in the game. Milwaukee reserve Tim Thomas was the difference.
|  | | Ray Allen loves playing against Vince Carter, and the Bucks' guard delivered a game-high 29 points Tuesday. |
Thomas, the only Milwaukee reserve to score, had 23 points as
the Bucks beat the Raptors, who benched four starters in the fourth
quarter, 101-97 Tuesday night.
"Tim is the prototypical sixth man," said Sam Cassell, who had
21 points. "If he's got big numbers we'll win ball games. He's a
difficult match for many teams and we need him to continue playing
like this."
Thomas was 5-for-7 from 3-point range and had 16 points in the
second quarter when the Bucks began to pull away.
"We were able to move the ball well and I just found some open
shots," said Thomas, who had 20 points at halftime. "We struggle
when we don't move the ball and we did that. Tonight we were the
better team."
The Raptors, who trailed by 19 points at the start of the fourth
quarter, closed within four points late in the game, even though
coach Lenny Wilkens sat Charles Oakley, Antonio Davis, Alvin
Williams and Morris Peterson for entire quarter. Carter played only
four minutes down the stretch.
"Our starters have been playing well so you don't give up on
them," Wilkens said. "But it was the guys in the fourth quarter
and their energy that brought us back."
Jerome Williams led the charge with enthusiasm and scored eight
points in the fourth.
"Jerome Williams is known throughout the league for giving
energy," Thomas said. "We knew it was going to be a dogfight no
matter what the score is."
Ray Allen had a game-high 29 points and Glenn Robinson added 18
for the Bucks, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
"They made a good run with their reserves. That's what your
bench is for," Robinson said, "Otherwise, we blow the game out."
Carter had 24 points and nine rebounds. Peterson had 17 points,
including 14 in the first quarter, and Alvin Williams 14. Reserves
Keon Clark had 10 rebounds and Chris Childs had eight assists for
Toronto, which had its two-game winning streak snapped.
Tracy Murray, in his first minutes, hit back-to-back 3-pointers
as the Raptors scored 10 straight points and closed within 90-81.
"They really gave us a lift in the fourth quarter," Carter
said. "We just couldn't catch up."
The Bucks missed their first nine shots in the fourth quarter
before Thomas hit a 3-pointer with 7:34 left.
"We've got to play better. As coach (Wayne) Karl would say we
got lucky," Cassell said. "We're just not playing very good
basketball right now."
Williams' dunk with 3:58 remaining cut the deficit to six points
and Clark's dunk pulled the Raptors within 99-95 with 30 seconds
left.
Cassell's driving finger roll with 3:36 left in the third
quarter gave the Bucks an 86-68 lead. Allen made it 90-71 on a
jumper in the final seconds of the period.
The Bucks scored 14 points in the last two minutes of the first
half and opened a 66-56 lead.
Game notes
Lindsey Hunter bruised his right thigh when he collided
with Carter in the third quarter. ... Peterson scored the Raptors'
first seven points of the game. ... There were 18 lead changes in
the first quarter. ... Toronto visits New York on Thursday, marking
the return of former Knick Chris Childs. ... Childs sprained his
right index finger in the second quarter, but returned in the
third. ... The Bucks play host to Seattle on Thursday. It will be
the teams' first meeting this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Milwaukee 101
Toronto 97
Atlanta 109
Vancouver 99
New York 98
Cleveland 79
Sacramento 114
Orlando 108
Dallas 122
New Jersey 98
Houston 127
Indiana 118
Seattle 99
Portland 90
LA Lakers 112
Boston 107
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