The Toronto Raptors wanted a second straight solid effort, they were tired of the bad game-good game-bad game-good game monotony of their playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks.They said all the right things heading into Game 5 about remembering what worked and remembering what didn’t and bringing the effort from start to finish.And then they produced.READ MORE:Raptors trying to keep Antetokounmpo the meek GreekIn a game they controlled basically from start to finish, Toronto took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, hammering the Bucks 118-93 in front of the usual sellout crowd at the Air Canada Centre.A delightfully diverse offensive display — six players in double figures, everyone enjoying a solid shooting night — propelled Toronto to win and they can close the series out Thursday in Milwaukee.A Game 7, if necessary, would be in Toronto on Saturday.Norm Powell had a stunning night, scoring a career playoff-high 25 points that included four three-pointers and a fourth-quarter dunk that electrified the crowd.In two games in this series as a starter, Powell is a perfect seven-for-seven from three-point range.Kyle Lowry, who missed the morning shootaround because of back stiffness, still managed to have his usual significance impact on the game.He stood in and took a charge from Greg Monroe, dove on the floor for loose balls, made shots and drove the lanes as part of a 16-point, 10-assist night.It was vital, too, because Toronto struggled when he had to go out (he was flat on the floor along baseline during his rests thanks the back) and his calming influence was needed at key stretches of the game.Early in the fourth quarter, when the Bucks were making a run at what had been a 17-point Raptors lead, Lowry committed his fourth foul and coach Dwane Casey decided he needed to come out, lifting him while protecting against Lowry getting a fifth personal.That lasted less than 90 seconds, though, and when the Bucks continued their run, Lowry ...
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