As if Sunday’s Game 7 win wasn’t high enough, the Toronto Raptors are now headed to a place they’ve been just once before: the Eastern Conference Finals. They’re set to meet the Milwaukee Bucks, in a matchup of the two teams with the best regular season records in the NBA this season. It’s also, of course, a clash of superstars between the newly minted Toronto hero Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee will enjoy home court advantage in the series, with the first game going at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday. The Raptors open home action for Game 3 on Sunday, May 19. We have plenty more preview content for your feasting eyes coming soon. As usual, the Canadian broadcasts will be split between Sportsnet and TSN — with Sportsnet taking Game 1. American broadcasts will all be on TNT with the team of Marv Albert, Reggie Miller, and Chris Webber. For now, clear your calendars and let’s get this going. Raptors vs. Bucks Eastern Conference Finals Schedule Game 1: Wednesday, May 15 - 8:30pm - Fiserv Forum - TNT/Sportsnet Game 2: Friday, May 17 - 8:30pm - Fiserv Forum - TNT/TSN Game 3: Sunday, May 19 - 7pm - Scotiabank Arena - TNT/Sportsnet Game 4: Tuesday, May 21 - 8:30pm - Scotiabank Arena - TNT/TSN **Game 5: Thursday, May 23 - 8:30pm - Fiserv Forum - TNT/TSN **Game 6: Saturday, May 25 - 8:30pm - Scotiabank Arena - TNT/Sportsnet **Game 7: Monday, May 27 - 8:30pm - Fiserv Forum - TNT/TSN ** if necessary<doc-sep>They took slightly different paths, but the East's top two teams are now set to meet in the Conference Finals as many expected all season. It's the first time these two franchises will meet in the postseason since 2017. With both the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks taking care of business in the second round of the playoffs, the Eastern Conference Finals is now set. NBA.com is your destination for complete coverage of every series from now through the end of the NBA Finals. Series Schedule Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place in Milwaukee at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Game 1 - Wednesday, May 15 at Milwaukee, Time: 8:30 p.m.; TV: SN1/E/O/W/P Game 2 - Friday, May 17 at Milwaukee, Time: 8:30 p.m.; TV: TSN Network Game 3 - Sunday, May 19 at Toronto, Time: 7:00 p.m.; TV: SN1/E/O/W/P Game 4 - Tuesday, May 21 at Toronto, Time: 8:30 p.m.; TV: TSN Network Game 5 (if necessary) - Thursday, May 23 at Milwaukee, Time: 8:30 p.m.; TV: TSN Network Game 6 (if necessary) - Saturday, May 25 at Toronto, Time: 8:30 p.m.; TV: SN1/E/O/W/P Game 7 (if necessary) - Monday, May 27 at Milwaukee, Time: 8:30 p.m.; TV: TSN Network Recapping the Season Series Result: Bucks won 3-1 Best game: Jan. 5, 2019 - Raptors 123, Bucks 116 Best performance: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Jan. 5, 2019) - 43 points (16-25 FG), 18 rebounds, four assists and one steal The first meeting between the Raptors and Bucks this season came early when both teams were a perfect 6-0. Giannis Antetokounmpo (concussion) and Kawhi Leonard (rest) missed the game, and Milwaukee cruised to a 124-109 win behind a balanced effort that saw seven players score in double figures. Serge Ibaka led the Raptors in scoring that night with 30 points and Pascal Siakam chipped in with 22 points. The second meeting was much closer but the end result was the same. Behind a 19-point, 19-rebound double-double from Antetokounmpo, the Bucks defeated the Raptors in Toronto, 104-99. Kyle Lowry struggled in the loss, going scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting from the field. The Raptors picked up their lone win against the Bucks on Jan. 5 in what turned out to be the best game between the two teams this season. Leonard and Siakam led the Raptors in scoring with 30 points each, but they got a scoring punch out of Ibaka (25), Danny Green (12) and Fred VanVleet (21), the latter of whom started in place of Lowry, who was dealing with a back injury. The five of them helped Toronto overcome 43 points, 18 rebounds and four assists from Antetokounmpo to beat the Bucks, 123-116. The Bucks got some revenge in the final game of the season, winning by a final score of 105-92 at the Scotiabank Arena. It was a team effort once again, as seven players scored in double figures, including D.J. Wilson (16) and George Hill (10) off the bench. Key Storyline: Can the Raptors contain Giannis Antetokounmpo? The Raptors will have their hands full trying to slow down Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in these playoffs. The Bucks have built a team around Antetokounmpo that plays perfectly to his strengths, surrounding him with shooters to give him the space he needs to attack the paint, where he led the league in scoring this season. Antetokounmpo is a matchup nightmare for every team because he's too big and strong for perimeter players to guard and too quick and athletic for big men to stay in front of. Double-teaming him is risky as well. Not only is Antetokounmpo a capable passer, the Bucks made and attempted the second-most 3-pointers in the league this season, trailing only the Houston Rockets. Every player on Milwaukee's roster is comfortable shooting 3-pointers, even Brook Lopez, who set the record for 3s made by a centre during the regular season. So who on the Raptors will take on the responsibility of defending Antetokounmpo? According to NBA.com, Siakam matched up with the MVP candidate the most this season, followed by Leonard, Ibaka and OG Anunoby. Here's what Antetokounmpo did in each of those matchups: Raptors vs. Antetokounmpo Defender Games Possessions Points FGM-FGA Assists Turnovers Siakam 3 93 41 15-27 5 5 Leonard 3 31 4 2-3 3 0 Ibaka 3 26 14 6-9 0 2 Anunoby 3 24 13 4-5 3 1 This is another series where the Raptors will miss Anunoby if he's unable to play. While he wouldn't be the primary defender on Antetokounmpo, Toronto would benefit greatly from having another wing who can match up with him physically, especially now that Siakam is dealing with an injury. According to Blake Murphy of The Athletic, Anunoby is now travelling with the Raptors for the first time since undergoing an emergency appendectomy, but there's still no update on when he is expected to return. Three Players to Watch Kawhi Leonard vs. Milwaukee in 2018-19 (three games): 22.0 points (42.6 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 81.0 FT%), 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists The Bucks did a better job defending Leonard this season than most teams, limiting him to 22.0 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting from the field. Leonard was fantastic in Toronto's lone win with a team-high 30 points, but he scored a total of 36 points in the two other contests he appeared in. Khris Middleton was the primary reason Leonard didn't play to his usual standard. According to NBA.com, he limited the three-time All-Star to 36 points on 11-for-27 shooting from the field over three games. Aaron Gordon has similar success against Leonard based on the matchup data, but Leonard torched both him and the Magic in the first round to the tune of 27.8 points per game. Will Leonard be able to do the same against a Bucks team that had the best defensive rating in the league this season? Khris Middleton vs. Toronto in 2018-19 (three games): 14.0 points (47.6 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 63.6 FT%), 6.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds<doc-sep>It all almost seems predestined, didn’t it? From the time the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks clashed as unbeaten foes just seven games into the season, these two squads have reigned supreme atop the battle for supremacy in LeBron James’s wake. And what a battle it will be. Each squad is led by top-five players in the world in Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo and flanked by a parade of supporting characters that people wouldn’t deem superstars. In fact, the similarities are pretty interesting when you dive deep into it, considering the large majority of their rosters is comprised of late picks or guys coming in off the scrap heap. We’ll have plenty to say about this series in the run-up to Wednesday, but for now, let’s run through when we’ll be able to tune in. As a reminder, all games will be broadcast on TNT or streaming online at TNTDrama.com or via the TNT app. Game 1 - Wed. May 15 Venue - Fiserv Forum - Fiserv Forum Tipoff - 7:30 Game 2 - Fri. May 17 Venue - Fiserv Forum - Fiserv Forum Tipoff - 7:30 Game 3 - Sun. May 19 Venue - Scotiabank Arena - Scotiabank Arena Tipoff - 6:00 Game 4 - Tue. May 21 Venue - Scotiabank Arena - Scotiabank Arena Tipoff - 7:30 Game 5 (If necessary) - Thu. May 23 Venue - Fiserv Forum - Fiserv Forum Tipoff - 7:30 Game 6 (If necessary) - Sat. May 25 Venue - Scotiabank Arena - Scotiabank Arena Tipoff - 7:30 Game 7 (If necessary) - Mon. May 27 Venue - Fiserv Forum - Fiserv Forum Tipoff - 7:30 So there it is. Seven (potential) games to decide who will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Wednesday can’t come quickly enough.<doc-sep>The top seeded Milwaukee Bucks, led by forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, host the second seeded Toronto Raptors, led by wing Kawhi Leonard, in game one of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 (5/15/19) at 8:30 p.m. EDT at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here’s what you need to know: Who: Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks What: Game 1, Eastern Conference Finals When: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 Where: Fiserv Forum Time: 8:30 p.m. EDT TV: TNT Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity,Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling Live stream: fuboTV (free trial) Line: Bucks -6 Giannis Antetokounmpo has carried the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001. The Bucks have reason to believe they can go even further, thanks to a deep roster that received a boost with the return of guard Malcolm Brogdon for the clinching game of their semifinal series win over the Boston Celtics. Brogdon missed the Bucks' first eight playoff games and final 13 regular-season games with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot. He was able to shake off some of the rust as he scored 10 points and played 17 minutes in Milwaukee's 116-91 victory over Boston in Game 5 on Wednesday. "It was like he never left," Bucks center Brook Lopez said of Brogdon's long-awaited return. "He just picked everyone up. Our crowd felt it; our team felt it." Now the Bucks will turn their attention to a conference final matchup against either Toronto or Philadelphia. Either way, they will host the first two games next week — and the reserves are heating up. Bench play was critical in the team's four straight victories against Boston after the Celtics handily won Game 1. Veteran point guard George Hill averaged 14.2 points in the series while shooting 59.6% from the field (28 of 47) and 47.4% from three-point range (9 of 19). Pat Connaughton and Ersan Ilyasova also played key roles off the bench, and the pair combined for 17 points and 17 rebounds in the series clincher. Connaughton soared for rebounds and made key 3-pointers during the series, while Ilyasova played with grit and added timely baskets. "We take pride in our depth so much," Lopez said. "We always say in the game, 'No let up, no let up.' We really feel we have no drop-off, regardless of who we have on the floor." The 33-year-old Hill, who has played in 111 career postseason games and reached the NBA Finals with Cleveland last year, said there is something special at work with this Bucks team. "We all enjoy playing together," Hill said. "It's hard to come by a team when no one hates each other, no one has animosity and no one cares who scores the most or who gets the most shots. This team has one thing in common: We all want to be competitive and we all want to win. When you have a team like that, it makes it easy when you're out there." In Brogdon's absence, Sterling Brown moved into the starting lineup and played well during the final stretch of the regular season. After the Bucks' poor effort in the opener against Boston, Nikola Mirotic was inserted as a starter at small forward and Brown went to the bench. Mirotic contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes on Wednesday. "It's a big confidence (booster) when they put trust in you and also your teammates," Mirotic said. "It was not about shots. It was about good energy, playing good defense. ... Just play simple. With guys who share the ball this way, it's easy to play." Brogdon became just the eighth NBA player in league history to finish a season with 50-40-90 mark, meaning he shot better than 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 90% from the free throw line. He worked diligently with the training staff to be able to return at such a critical time. Coach Mike Budenholzer was encouraged with what he saw. "He actually played more than we anticipated," Budenholzer said. "I think it was right at six weeks to come in and play in a playoff game. To contribute in a positive way speaks to his work ethic, his professionalism, his toughness." The Bucks will continue to rely on the sensational play of Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.4 points and 11.3 rebounds through nine playoff games. The league MVP candidate is excited for the challenge waiting in the next round and a chance to reach the NBA Finals, a place the Bucks have not been since 1974. That was the last time they won a conference crown, too, and it came three years after the franchise's only NBA title. "There are going to be a lot of people that are going to doubt us," Antetokounmpo said. "There are going to be people that are going to be with us and there are people that are going to be against us. We realize that we've never been there before. But we are really, really hungry to achieve our goals. “That’s all I care about. As long as we go out there and play hard, we really don’t care about what anybody has to say.” (The AP contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>
Raptors vs. Bucks: Schedule, time, TV channel Date Matchup Time (TV channel) May 15 Game 1 at Milwaukee 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) May 17 Game 2 at Milwaukee 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) May 19 Game 3 at Toronto 7 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) May 21 Game 4 at Toronto 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) May 23* Game 5 at Milwaukee 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) May 25* Game 6 at Toronto 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) May 27* Game 7 at Milwaukee 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT/fuboTV) (*if necessary) MORE: Watch Bucks vs. Raptors live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Raptors vs. Bucks: The backstory I covered the 2001 playoffs, the last time the Bucks made the conference finals, and the notion of these two teams facing off brings a tear to my eye. I can still remember Vince Carter’s potential game-winning 20-footer bouncing awry in Game 7 of the East semis against Philadelphia, giving the series to the Sixers and leaving the Raptors fans in a stunned playoff silence that has pretty much lasted two decades now. Toronto made one hopeful trip back to the conference finals, in 2016, and gave one of their best postseason fights, losing to Cleveland in six games rather than the usual four. Milwaukee has not been to the conference finals since that 2001 trip, which was sullied by accusations that the NBA refs had tilted the games toward Allen Iverson and the Sixers, their East Coast numbers believed to be better for ratings. Regardless, these are two teams, guided by new coaches — rookie Nick Nurse for Toronto and likely Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer for the Bucks — without much recent history of success in the NBA playoffs. But one of these teams will be in the NBA Finals and likely face a shaky Western Conference foe. For both, it has been a long time — for Toronto, in fact, a Finals trip has never happened, and for the Bucks, the wait stretches back to 1974. However this series turns, the NBA will get something refreshing out of the deal: A Finals participant that has not had a spot in the league’s biggest showcase in 45 years. Or ever, for that matter. LIVE: Today's NBA scores, updates, TV schedule Raptors vs. Bucks: The key players Sure, it will be star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo getting the marquee attention for this one. But it will be their first mates — each of whom guards the opposing team’s star — who determine how this series will go. For Milwaukee, that means Khris Middleton, who is rolling through another impressive postseason. He is averaging 19.1 points and shooting 46.7 percent on 3-pointers, while also posting 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He was a defensive ace in the series against Boston, the primary defender on two of the Celtics who struggled badly, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward. Middleton had success defending Leonard in the regular season. In three matchups against Leonard, Middleton faced him an average of 47.7 possessions, allowing only 12.0 points on 40.7 percent shooting from the field. Middleton will have help, of course, but he will get the primary draw on Leonard, and he’s got a good track record in a limited number of games. On the other side, it will be Pascal Siakam, who has been a consistent secondary weapon for Toronto as veterans Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol have struggled. Siakam has averaged more than 20 points per game in the playoffs, and the Raptors will need that consistent scoring against Milwaukee. But Siakam will also get the prime matchup against Antetokounmpo, who dominated the Raptors in the three games he faced them this season. Antetokounmpo averaged 27.0 points, 15.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists against Toronto, shooting 58.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from the 3-point line. Siakam was not the only defender on him, but he had his hands full — Antetokounmpo shot 64.7 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the 3-point line when guarded by Siakam in those three games. (Getty Images) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/50/36/khris-middleton-getty-112118-ftrjpg_1okjnd8uz10tc1v4w7zt0ppkay.jpg?t=922074095&w=500&quality=80 Raptors vs. Bucks: The big number 4.5. It’s easy to overlook the Bucks’ bench when you’ve got Antetokounmpo on the roster, but Milwaukee’s reserves have played 19.1 minutes in the playoffs, fourth-most among the 16 teams, and have been a plus-4.5 through nine games.