Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals may not have been the prettiest game of basketball we’ve found in the playoffs, however it beyond any doubt was a standout amongst the most dramatic. After more than three hours of activity, the Toronto Raptors got away with a 118-112 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks in double overtime. The series presently stands 2-1 favor of Milwaukee.
Pascal Siakam had 25 and 11 bounce back, Norman Powell scored 19 points before fouling out, and Marc Gasol had 16 points and 12 bounce back. The Raptors will endeavor to draw notwithstanding when they have Game 4 on Tuesday night. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12 points and 23 bounce back before fouling out with 4:24 to go in the second overtime. Antetokounmpo shot five for 16.
Toronto won in spite guards Kyle Lowry and Powell both fouling out in the final quarter. Siakam likewise missed a couple of free tosses with 7.4 seconds left in regulation that could have frosted the game for the Raptors. Siakam made up for himself by hindering a potential tying shot by Brook Lopez with 43 seconds to go in the second overtime, prompting a layup for Leonard that put Toronto up 114-110 with a little more than 30 seconds to play.
Leonard made 11 of 25 shots and went 12 for 13 at the free toss line. He had nine bounce back and five helps in spite of seeming, by all accounts, to be annoyed by some leg pain. “I’m feeling all right. This is playoff basketball,” Leonard said. “Everybody’s hurting so I’ve just got to keep fighting.”
After suggesting Saturday that he might change his lineup, Raptors coach Nick Nurse stuck with his normal starters, but gave Powell 30 minutes, the most he’s played in any game this postseason.
