TORONTO — Bad starts by the Toronto Raptors are not new, either within a game or starting a first-round playoff series.
But a poor fourth quarter, a quarter the Raptors have owned this season, was a shock on Saturday as they lost 97-83 to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Air Canada Centre.
The Raptors have now not won a Game 1 in an first-round NBA playoff series in nine tries. Toronto backed into the game as they normally do giving up 30 points in the first quarter, but it has happened so often most Raptors fans are likely numb to it by now.
Toronto rallied with a big second quarter holding the Bucks to just 16 points and taking a 51-46 lead into halftime.
Then it got weird.
The Raptors appeared to be in control about seven minutes into the third and appeared to get a gift when Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up his fourth foul and had to go to the bench.
It should have been time for the Raptors put the foot on the gas, but instead they stalled. The Bucks dug in defensively and went on an 11-2 run to take control of the game.
Antetokounmpo, who would wind up with a team-high 28 points, returned with his team leading by five at the end of the quarter. In the fourth, the Raptors struggled and fell behind by 14 points with just over four to go.
Toronto scored only 32 points in the second half.
DeMar DeRozan had a strong offensive game, scoring 27 points including 13 in 14 trips to the free-throw line.
Serge Ibaka had 19 points and 14 rebounds in his first playoff appearance for the Raptors.
The Raptors will now have two more days of practice to work out the kinks before the two teams do battle again on Tuesday.
mganter@postmedia.com