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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) – With 68 playoff games under his belt and three
championship rings on his dresser, Milwaukee Bucks forward Scott
Williams qualifies as an expert on postseason preparedness.
|  | | The Bucks' Glenn Robinson tries to deny a driving Vince Carter. |
And he loves what he sees.
"We're pummeling teams, we're getting them up against the
ropes. They're hitting the canvas and they're not getting back
up," Williams said after the Bucks punished the Toronto Raptors
112-86 Saturday night.
"I think we're the hottest team in the league right now. We're
sharing the basketball. We're defending. I have yet to see a
weakness in our game," Williams said. "I don't particularly care
who we see in the playoffs. I think we're capable of beating
anybody. The last two teams we've played have been playoff
opponents, Utah and Toronto, and they didn't even look like they
were in the same class as us."
That about says it all.
Ray Allen scored 31 points on 12-for-15 shooting and Lindsey
Hunter added 22 in a reserve role as the Bucks, champions of the
Central Division, assured themselves of the homecourt advantage
over Miami should both teams advance past the first round of the
playoffs.
They also denied Toronto (45-35) a franchise record for
victories.
Allen, who scored a career-high 43 points against Utah two
nights earlier, scored 19 quick points as the Bucks built a 37-20
lead after one quarter. He was 7-for-7 from the floor and 4-for-4
from the stripe.
"Ray's start was unbelievable," Bucks coach George Karl said.
And so was his finish -- 12 points in a five-minute flurry in the
fourth.
Hunter came in and scored 16 points in the second quarter, when
he sank four 3-pointers -- he finished with six 3s -- and the Bucks
led by as many as 26 before taking a 67-44 halftime lead. That was
the most points Milwaukee had scored and the most Toronto had
surrendered in a half this season.
The Raptors were the third straight opponent the Bucks quickly
put away this week at the rocking, sold-out Bradley Center, joining
Chicago and Utah. The Jazz' 1-0 lead on Thursday night was the only
time that the Bucks trailed in those three games.
"If we continue to do that, it's going to be hard to beat us,"
Ervin Johnson said. "We know we can be special this year. I think
we can be the Eastern Conference champions."
If not the NBA champions, Williams said.
Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said he saw no reason why the Bucks'
high-flying style wouldn't serve them well in the playoffs.
"Why not? I think if you play your style and you're doing
things and making shots, why not?" he said.
"If they hit shots like that, anything can work," Antonio
Davis agreed. "They're playing hard, they're playing well
together. Everybody's playing their roles. Their style will hold
up. It's been working."
Karl said he had to tip his hat to his own team, which shot a
season-high 58.8 percent.
"When we rebound and defend and pass a little bit, our shooting
is even better than it normally is, which is pretty damn good,"
Karl said.
The Bucks' most likely first-round playoff opponents, Orlando
and Miami, were idle Saturday night.
There's an outside chance Indiana, which has eliminated
Milwaukee from the postseason the last two years, could vault to
the No. 7 seed and face the Bucks again. The Pacers would have
to win their last three and the Magic would have to lose its last
three.
Karl, however, now has the luxury of playing reserves at Orlando
on Monday night, which could throttle the Pacers' plans of moving
up.
"I still think we've got to play the games to win and be
professional," Karl said. "We do have some bodies that do need
some rest.
"We've just got to go out and finish off the season and get
healthy and energized and ready to rock 'n' roll."
Game notes
Reserve Keon Clark led the Raptors with 18 points. ...
Darvin Ham and Charles Oakley were both assessed technical fouls in
the second quarter for their overly physical play. ... Karl
complained about the officiating of Marc Davis, and late in the
first quarter, Karl yelled, "Blow the whistle!" and Davis
complied, giving Karl a technical. ... Milwaukee finished 31-10 at
home, their best mark in a decade. ... The Bucks placed forward Tim
Thomas (shoulder) on the injured list for the remainder of the
regular season and activated Jerome Kersey. Thomas will be
eligible to return for the playoffs. ... Bucks forward Jason Caffey
didn't suit up because of a sore left knee. ... Raptors guard Chris
Childs strained his left groin in the second half.
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NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 129
Atlanta 124
Milwaukee 112
Toronto 86
San Antonio 111
Denver 95
Houston 100
Vancouver 95
LA Clippers 106
Golden State 94
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