Raptors beat Bucks 121-107 behind Martin's career-high scoring
Toronto overcame the absence of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes to snap a losing streak in the NBA Cup.
By Tristan Parker ·
Alijah Martin scored 27 points, the highest total of his career, as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 121-107 on Friday in the NBA Cup.
The Raptors, playing without their star players, dominated the second half with a 70-47 run to improve their record to 1-1. The Bucks fell to 0-1 in Group A of the Eastern Conference tournament. Toronto overcame a shortage of personnel to control the pace of the game.
The team managed the loss of Kawhi Leonard, a seven-time All-NBA selection, who missed his seventh straight game due to a knee injury. Scottie Barnes, a two-time All-Star, sat out with a shin issue, and starting guard Immanuel Quickley missed the game with a hamstring injury.
Martin, a second-round draft pick from Florida in 2025, shot 9 of 11 from the field and 6 of 7 from deep. He had not scored more than nine points in any of his 30 previous NBA games. His season total before Friday was 23 points in seven games. He also went 6 for 27 from three-point range in his career prior to this performance.
Jamal Shead led the team in playmaking with 16 assists, a personal best, and added 10 points. Collin Murray-Boyles and Jakob Poeltl each finished with 19 points. On the other side, Tyler Herro recorded 23 points and 10 assists for Milwaukee. Rookie Brayden Burries set career highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bucks now hold a 1-8 record, marking their worst start to a season since the 1993-94 campaign. In that year, the team lost 10 of its first 11 games and finished with a 20-62 record.
