Raptors rally past Bucks to win East Finals berth, will face Warriors
TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard had 27 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors into the NBA Finals for the first time with a 100-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
The Raptors overcame a 15-point deficit to win the series in six games and will host the Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
It will be the two-time defending champions against a Raptors team that will finally bring the NBA Finals outside the U.S. after entering the league in 1995.
Pascal Siakam scored 18 points, Kyle Lowry 17 and Fred VanVleet 14 for the Raptors, who used a 26-3 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to turn the game in their favor.
Lowry held the game ball and picked up his children after the game, finally getting to the championship round after the Raptors kept falling short against Cleveland.
They needed something more to get further and they found it the acquisition of Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP who was acquired from San Antonio and carried the Raptors in this postseason.
“He’s the best player in the league, and we’re happy he’s in Toronto,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, but the NBA’s top team in the regular season saw its bid for a first finals berth in 45 years come to an end with a fourth consecutive defeat.
After being down 76-71 to start the fourth, the Raptors tied it with an 7-2 run while Leonard and Antetokounmpo were both on the bench. Ibaka’s dunk with 10:32 to go tied it at 78-78.
Antetokounmpo returned after a timeout, but Leonard kept sitting. That didn’t matter to Toronto, with Siakam’s basket giving the Raptors an 80-78 lead, their first since it was 6-3.
Leonard’s one-handed slam after Lowry’s steal gave Toronto an 87-79...