Feb 20, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Cam Thomas (24) dribbles in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans in the course of the first half at Smoothie King Middle. Necessary Credit score: Stephen Lew-Imagn Pictures The instantly scorching Milwaukee Bucks will return house for the primary time in additional than two weeks once they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
The Bucks opened their publish All-Star break schedule in New Orleans, the place they pulled away late to beat the Pelicans 139-118 on Friday evening.
The win was Milwaukee’s third in a row and sixth up to now seven contests.
It was a balanced scoring assault for the Bucks, led by 27 factors every from Ryan Rollins and newly acquired Cam Thomas along with 25 factors and 7 assists from Kevin Porter Jr.
Bobby Portis added 17 factors and 11 rebounds.
“We’re simply being aggressive, in search of our pictures on all of our three-level scorers,” Rollins stated of the guards’ capacity to search out the perfect matchup. “Some conditions the place chances are you’ll really feel prefer it’s a bonus that they’ve, we simply name a fast boomerang or simply give them house and allow them to work out.”
Thomas has made a powerful first impression in his three video games since being signed by the Bucks as a free agent this month after being launched by the Brooklyn Nets.
Along with his 27 factors on Friday, he scored 12 in a victory over Oklahoma Metropolis on Feb. 12 and 34 in simply 25 minutes in a win over Orlando they day earlier than.
“The gamers and coaches embraced me as quickly as I obtained right here. Everybody was like simply be you and play your sport; that meant quite a bit to me,” stated Thomas, 24. “The vibes are actually good; we’re enjoying significant basketball.”
Toronto, in the meantime, obtained off to a good begin in its post-break schedule because it took down the Bulls in Chicago 110-101 on Thursday. It was Toronto’s third win in its final 4 video games.
Brandon Ingram led the best way with 31 factors and in addition had eight rebounds and 6 assists. Teammate Scottie Barnes added 14 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
“Normally the primary sport (after the break) is discovering the rhythm, getting the rust off,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic stated. “What I am actually happy with is our guys staying the course throughout the entire sport. We saved discovering methods to compete.”
Ingram is averaging a team-high 22.0 factors a sport this season, and Barnes is subsequent at 19.2 whereas main the crew in rebounds at 8.4 a sport.
“I believed it was vital for me to be aggressive whether or not the shot was stepping into or not and in addition simply having a presence on the defensive aspect,” Ingram stated. “As a frontrunner I wish to decide my spots, discuss when it is vital, not simply rah-rah.”
On the harm entrance, Toronto’s report is obvious outdoors of Chucky Hepburn, who’s out with a knee harm.
Milwaukee was with out Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Myles Turner (calf) in Friday’s sport. Coach Doc Rivers reported that Antetokounmpo practiced however has not completed any dwell five-on-five work. Rivers added that there’s nonetheless no agency timetable for the star’s return, however “he is shut.”
That is the ultimate matchup between Toronto and Milwaukee this season because the Raptors search for the season-series victory, having received two of the three video games.
In the newest assembly, on Dec. 18, Toronto received 111-105 behind Ingram’s 29 factors.
–Subject Stage Media
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