NBA Playoffs 2019: 1st Half Rapid Reaction from Game 5 between Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks

Micah Adams

NBA Playoffs 2019: 1st Half Rapid Reaction from Game 5 between Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks image

We're halfway through a pivotal Game 5. With a second half yet to play, here are some takeaways from an action-packed first half...

The Bucks stormed out of the gates to a big lead before the Raptors clawed back to briefly take a lead in the second quarter. The Bucks lead 49-46 at the half.

In NBA history, the Game 5 winner of a best-of-seven series tied 2-2 has gone on to win the series 82% of the time. 

For live updates all game and immediate post-game reaction, follow along HERE for the latest stats and highlights.

Early turnovers lead to big hole

The Raptors quickly found themselves in a 18-4 hole midway through the first quarter thanks in part to early turnovers. They had five turnovers within the first 4:05.

Here's a list of Toronto's first 13 possessions to begin the game:

  • Danny Green missed 3-pointer
  • Marc Gasol turnover
  • Kawhi Leonard made 3-pointer
  • Pascal Siakam offensive foul
  • Kyle Lowry missed 3-pointer
  • Kyle Lowry missed 3-pointer
  • Kyle Lowry turnover
  • Marc Gasol missed 3-pointer
  • Norman Powell drawn foul (made 1 of 2)
  • Marc Gasol missed layup
  • Norman Powell turnover
  • Kawhi Leonard missed jumper
  • Kawhi Leonard missed 3-pointer

If you're scoring at home, that's 1-8 from the floor with four turnovers and one trip to the line. 

While the Raptors were doing that, the Bucks were doing this:


Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard early foul trouble

With 10:25 left in the first quarter, Pascal Siakam appeared to draw an And-1 in transition. Instead, he was whistled for his second foul of the game and was subbed out for Norman Powell. Siakam is coming off a lackadaisical Game 4 in which he finished with just seven points, his second game this series in single digits.

Over the first two rounds of the playoffs, Siakam was held to single digits just once in 12 games while averaging 20.8 points per game.

After picking up his first foul 15 seconds into the game, Kawhi Leonard picked up his second foul with 4:06 left in the first quarter. Though he typically comes out of the game at that point anyways, the Raptors had cut Milwaukee's 14-point lead down to seven.

With Leonard on the bench, the Bucks ended the first quarter up by 10. Milwaukee is tough to beat at home when spotting a big lead. The Bucks are 8-0 at home this season when leading by double digits after the first quarter with all eight wins coming by double figures.

Eric Bledsoe breaks out of slump

One of the biggest storylines of the series thus far was Eric Bledsoe's slump on the offensive end. Save for a few moments in the third quarter of Game 1, he's struggled so far in this series as he entered Game 5 averaging just 8.3 points per game on 24% shooting.

Bledsoe set the tone in the first quarter, scoring a team-high nine points on 3-4 shooting. That's more than he scored in all of Game 4 (five points) and Game 2 (eight points).

Milwaukee also got a big lift from Malcolm Brogdon, who started in place of Nikola Mirotic. Brogdon, who struggled in Game 4 as he shot 2-11 and finished with just four points, rewarded Mike Budenholzer's faith as he came out hot, pitching in eight points and a team-high five rebounds in the first quarter.

Raptors come roaring back

After trailing by as many as 14 points, the Raptors fought back to tie it on a Kawhi Leonard dunk off a Fred VanVleet steal just seconds after VanVleet drained a 3-pointer.

The Raptors got back in it thanks to a swarming defense to start the second quarter. The Bucks opened up the quarter just 1-13 from the field, a dry spell that included a missed dunk by Giannis Antetokounmpo. His 3-pointer with 4:24 left in the quarter ended a 18-2 run for the Raptors.

Here's the Bucks' cold spell to start the second quarter prior to that made 3-pointer by Antetokounmpo:

The Bucks started the second quarter 1-13 from the floor.

Offensively, the Raptors were led by Pascal Siakam (eight points) and Kyle Lowry (seven points) in the second quarter. The Raptors outscored the Bucks 24-17.

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Micah Adams

Micah Adams Photo

Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.