NBA Playoffs 2019: Raptors' Kyle Lowry on Game 1 vs. Bucks: 'It sucks when you lose like that'

Scott Rafferty

NBA Playoffs 2019: Raptors' Kyle Lowry on Game 1 vs. Bucks: 'It sucks when you lose like that' image

The Toronto Raptors led for most of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Milwaukee Bucks stormed back down the stretch to take a 1-0 series lead.

Whereas the Bucks struggled on offence through three quarters of play, they found their rhythm in the fourth period. Brook Lopez led the way with 13 points, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who added three points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Raptors, on the other hand, couldn't buy a basket in the final period. Kyle Lowry was the only player on the roster to make a field goal in those minutes — he was responsible for 14 of the team's 17 points, doing so on 5-for-7 shooting from the field. Everyone else combined for three points on 0-for-15 shooting.

MORE: Takeaways from Game 1 of Raptors-Bucks

After the game, Lowry expressed his frustration with how it ended but said the loss needs to be a learning experience for the Raptors.

"Fourth quarter killed us," Lowry said post-game. "[They outscored us] 32-17. They outplayed us in that fourth quarter, they got a little bit more aggressive, they made some big shots, they made some big plays.

"It sucks when you lose like that, but we had a chance and we gotta learn from it, make an adjustment. Stay even-keeled, not too high, not too low.

"Just look at the film and get better."

The Raptors will have an opportunity to bounce back on Friday when they take on the Bucks in Game 2 in Milwaukee.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.