Toronto pulverises Milwaukee Eastern Conference Finals in Game 4

All Star Giannis Antetekounmpo has committed another unforgivable error that one legend says should disqualify him from the MVP race.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has met his match.

The NBA Eastern Conference Finals series is all tied up at 2-2 after Toronto snatched the momentum with a commanding Game 4 dominance of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks were blown off the court early in the fourth quarter before the Raptors took their foot off the accelerator late to win 120-102.

The Raptors led by 20 points with eight minutes to play in Canada on the back of another Kawhi Leonard (19 points) masterclass and some clutch shooting from Kyle Lowry (25 points), despite the guard’s ongoing thumb injury.

Serge Ibaka had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who improved to 7-2 at home this post-season.

Lowry scored 12 of Toronto’s first 17 points to set the tone for the game and finished 10 for 10 at the line.

The lead was out to 104-84 before the Bucks called a panic time-out with eight minutes to play.

The Toronto crowd was rocking — and rap artist Drake was feeling it like everyone else.

He was spotted at one point giving Raptors coach Nick Nurse a shoulder rub after standing up from his courtside seats and putting hands on the Raptors mentor without any security staff trying to stop him.

The celebrity nuisance was also spotted getting in Nurse’s way earlier the game while screaming instructions from the sidelines like every other member of the Toronto coaching staff.

If I did what Drake just did at a Raptors game I would be tackled by no fewer than 14 people ...

Nick Nurse didn’t even notice. Time to just him as assistant coach/hype man and be done with it. pic.twitter.com/zDcTpOHzUu

— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) May 22, 2019

It was a night the Grammy-winning artist won’t soon forget.

As perfect a night as it was for him, it was every bit the miserable night at the office for the Bucks.

MVP favourite Giannis Antetekounmpo continued to struggle with Leonard pressuring him at both ends of the floor.

Antetekounmpo still managed 25 points and 10 rebounds, but was clearly feeling the pressure as some of his shots sailed off the mark.

His first free-throw of the night went as bad as it possibly could.

He air-balled from the foul line for the second time in the series, just a few days after a first free throw airball was enough for him to be disqualified for the MVP race, according to legend Reggie Miller.

The miss saw the Toronto crowd target the Bucks star with everything they had.

Even rap artist Drake tried to go after the Milwaukee mountain.

Drake stays clowning Giannis at the free throw line 💀 pic.twitter.com/W4iiGg7nMi

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2019

Drake goes wild after Giannis misses a free throw 😂 pic.twitter.com/NsUjKiEXiB

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) May 22, 2019

Earlier in the series, Miller said Antetekounmpo’s shooting blunders should make him ineligible for the game’s most prized individual award.

“You can’t be up for MVP and do that,” he said.

“You can’t be up for MVP and get an air ball at the free throw line. I’m sorry. They’ll probably end up winning, but you can’t airball.

“I’m disqualifying him. There will be a pink slip in his hotel room tonight. He gets the pink slip.”

Toronto’s Fred VanVleet, who missed 16 of 20 shot attempts through the first three games of the series, went 5 for 6 from the field in Game 4. He made each of his three 3-point tries and finished with 13 points.

Earlier, there were fears before the game that Leonard may have to be rested because of his obscene workload.

Leonard played a playoff career-high 52 minutes in Toronto’s double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

Leonard battled through both extra sessions while dealing with soreness in his leg. Pascal Siakam also had a long night, playing 51 minutes for Toronto, which will try to even the series in Tuesday’s Game 4.

Leonard didn’t speak to reporters Tuesday, but Raptors coach Nick Nurse said the star player isn’t injured, just fatigued.

“The consensus today is he’s tired, and he’s got two days and will be ready to go,” Nurse said. “Those are kind of the words coming out of his mouth: little tired, but he’ll get his rest, got two days, and he’ll be ready.”

— with AP

Originally published as Toronto pulverises Milwaukee Eastern Conference Finals in Game 4