The Toronto Raptors came back from a nine-point halftime deficit to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 121-107 in Emirates NBA Cup play, using a strong second-half push and balanced scoring to turn the game around. RJ Barrett and Alijah Martin led the way with 27 points apiece, and Barrett added seven rebounds and five assists in the win.
Toronto takes control after halftime
Milwaukee led 60-51 at the break, but Toronto steadily cut into that margin and grabbed the momentum in the fourth quarter. Jaden Bradley opened the scoring at 11:38 with a 13-foot jumper, and the Raptors moved in front for good moments later.
At 11:03 of the fourth quarter, Jakob Poeltl set up Alijah Martin for a 24-foot three-pointer, giving Toronto a 94-87 lead. Poeltl stayed involved throughout the closing stretch, later making a 5-foot shot at 5:45 to put the Raptors ahead 102-97.
The Bucks still had time to respond, but Toronto kept extending the advantage. Collin Murray-Boyles finished a tip-in dunk at 1:20 to make it 113-101, and Poeltl helped close things out in the final 24.6 seconds with a four-foot dunk and a finger roll layup.
Barrett leads a productive Toronto effort
Barrett’s line stood out not just because of the scoring total, but because he did damage in several ways. He finished 9-of-11 shooting with six three-pointers, and his efficiency helped set the tone for a Raptors offense that found its rhythm after halftime.
Martin matched Barrett with 27 points, giving Toronto a second big scorer to lean on. The Raptors also got important support from Poeltl in the second half, especially as the team built and protected its lead down the stretch.
For Milwaukee, the loss leaves the focus on a halftime lead that disappeared quickly once Toronto settled in. The Raptors, meanwhile, showed they could recover from an early deficit and control the game late, which was the difference in a 14-point victory.
