MILWAUKEE (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 87-76 in a defensive slugfest on Saturday to tie their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at two games apiece.

Kyle Lowry had 14 of his 18 points in the second half for the Raptors, who turned up their intensity before a hostile road crowd after getting embarrassed in a 27-point loss to Milwaukee in Game 3.

Toronto’s tested backcourt reverted to its playmaking form, especially the resurgent DeRozan. He was 12 of 22 from the field after missing all eight of his attempts in Game 3.

The Raptors seized home-court advantage back in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Monday at the Air Canada Centre.

The game was tied at halftime before Toronto slowly edged away in the second half, building a 10-point lead with 4 minutes left on Norman Powell’s 3-pointer.

Tony Snell led Milwaukee with 19 points.

 

 

— Steve Kerr is questionable to coach the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their playoff series at Portland on Saturday night because he didn’t feel well. The reigning NBA Coach of the Year missed the team’s morning shootaround, and the team said top assistant Mike Brown would coach Golden State for the game if necessary.

— The San Antonio Spurs will be without starting center Dewayne Dedmon in Game 4 against the Memphis Grizzlies because of an illness. The Spurs announced Dedmon would miss the game this afternoon, more than two hours before tipoff. The Spurs have a 2-1 series lead.

— Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is out for the remainder of the playoffs with a toe injury suffered in Friday night’s win against the Utah Jazz. The five-time All-Star was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar plate of his right big toe. Griffin left Game 3 in the second quarter.

— A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the NBA is investigating an incident between Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley and an Oklahoma City Thunder fan. The incident occurred Friday night when the Rockets played in Oklahoma City.
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