The Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks meet tonight in their second NBA Cup game of the season, and the contrast between the two teams is already pretty clear.
Toronto dropped its first Cup matchup to the Orlando Magic, while Milwaukee is just getting started in the in-season tournament. Before tipoff, Milwaukee Bucks On SI contributor Tre Allen laid out where the Bucks stand right now, and the picture he painted was familiar: competitive stretches, but too many empty possessions and too many late-game lapses.
Allen said the Bucks’ start since Giannis Antetokounmpo left has matched expectations, especially with the difficulty of the schedule. Milwaukee has had chances to win, but poor fourth-quarter execution and other mistakes have kept the record from looking better.
He also pointed to the energy and game plan from head coach Taylor Jenkins, while noting that the players have not consistently delivered on the execution side. Missed shots have been part of that problem.
For Allen, the biggest thing standing out is Milwaukee’s competitiveness. The Bucks have put themselves in position in a lot of games, but one bad quarter - or even one bad half - has been enough to tilt things away from them. He also called Jaime Jaquez Jr. a surprise, especially with his efficiency from deep, shooting 48.4% on almost five attempts per game.
Offensively, Allen said the issue goes beyond the numbers. The stats reflect the team’s shooting and scoring, but he believes Jenkins has put together plenty of good actions out of timeouts and set plays to create clean looks. The problem, as he put it, is that the shots simply have not gone in.
If Milwaukee is going to beat Toronto, Allen said it will have to be because the Bucks play well on both ends. Their defense ranks No. 27 in opponent points per game, and their offense is not much better at No. 21 in points per game. Too often, one end lets them down while the other is trying to carry the load.
Toronto, meanwhile, has been lower on defense than expected after the addition of Kawhi Leonard to pair with Scottie Barnes, but has made up for it with a strong offense. Allen noted that Leonard has only played two games and expects the defense to improve once he returns. He also said that outside of Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., Milwaukee has not had a steady offensive source.
Allen’s read on the matchup is that Toronto has the edge. Still, he thinks the Bucks could make it tighter than people expect, which has happened a few times already this season. His prediction: Raptors 125, Bucks 113.
In Other News...
Raptors Center Search Suddenly Has One Intriguing New Trade Target
Wendell Carter Jr. has quietly become one of the more interesting big men to watch around the league, and his season with the Orlando Magic has only sharpened that profile. For a Raptors team still sorting through its long-term answer in the middle, Carters blend of size, versatility and two-way usefulness makes him an easy name to circle when the conversation turns to possible upgrades.
The problem, as always, is getting from intrigue to reality. Toronto would have to navigate a tricky financial picture and the kind of salary-cap hurdles that can stall even a sensible idea before it gets off the ground, which is why this remains more of a future possibility than a live negotiation for now. Still, if the Magics direction changes or Toronto keeps looking for a center who fits multiple roles, Carters name is one that could linger on the Raptors radar. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Center Problem Could Put Nate Bittle In The Spotlight
Torontos center depth has become a real talking point, and Nate Bittle has surfaced as one of the more interesting names tied to it. Basketball analyst Sam Vecenie pointed to the two-way big man as a possible answer, which is notable given how much the Raptors have been looking for help in the middle. Bittles Summer League showing gave the idea some traction, with promising production across the board and enough rim protection to make him stand out.
The longer-term question is availability, because there is still no clear timetable for his return to play. That leaves the Raptors in a familiar holding pattern, weighing upside against uncertainty while trying to map out who can actually fill minutes at center. Bittles college background and his Summer League flashes make him worth watching, but for now the path from intriguing prospect to real rotation option remains unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face A Tough Allen Graves Decision As Ceiling Comes Into Focus
Without Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors have been forced to take a hard look at where they stand and what kind of move could actually lift the roster back into contention. One name that keeps surfacing is rookie forward Allen Graves, whose blend of value and upside makes him one of the few real assets Toronto could use to upgrade the starting lineup. The problem is that the front office is operating with limited ways to add first-round picks, which makes every possible path feel more expensive and more complicated.
Graves also represents the kind of decision teams hate most: the player you want to keep because he fits the long-term picture, and the player you may have to move because the present is demanding more. Toronto has to weigh its future draft flexibility against the need to improve now, especially with uncertainty hanging over what those future picks might actually become. The ceiling on this roster is becoming clearer, and so is the pressure to decide whether patience is still the right bet. [Read more 🡒]