MILWAUKEE-Buoyed a bit by a change to the starting lineup, the Toronto Raptors were far better in the first half of Game 4 than they were at any point in Game 3 and were tied 41-41 with the Milwaukee Bucks at halftime.Norm Powell replaced Jonas Valanciunas in the starting lineup to give Toronto a bit more athleticism and more outside shooting.It didn’t have a major impact in the first half but DeMar DeRozan, who had no field goals in Game 3, had 21 points for the Raptors.TORONTO at MILWAUKEEBMO Harris Bradley CentreGame 4, Bucks lead series, 2-1TIPOFF: 3 p.m.TV: Sportsnet; RADIO: Sportsnet FAN590Probable startersToronto: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas; Milwaukee: Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thon Maker.Who’s in chargeThe officials for this afternoon’s game are Danny Crawford, Brent Barnacky and Ron Garretson. If something prevents any of them from finishing the game, Nick Buchert’s the alternate.The historyToronto is 4-6 overall in Game 4 of a playoff series and 3-4 in Game 4 of a first-round series. They were up 2-1 against both Indiana and Miami and lost Game 4 last season; they were down 2-1 and beat Cleveland in the conference final.DeMar DeRozan was held without a field goal and to just eight points in Game 3.“I guarantee you it won’t be like that (Saturday),” he said.The last time DeRozan went back-to-back games scoring in single digits was Jan. 19-23, 2015.This and thatThe Raptors have dropped consecutive games only once since February’s NBA all-star break … This is the first time Milwaukee has held a 2-1 lead in a playoff series since 2001 … The 27-point Milwaukee win in Game 3 was the team’s largest margin of victory in a playoff game since the Bucks beat Atlanta by 29 in 1984.Read more:Chess game plays out in Raptors-Bucks playoff cauldronRaptors crash vs. Bucks in Game 3Full Raptors coverage
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