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. While Antetokounmpo’s preparedness to lead a team to a championship was a question leading into the playoffs, whether the Bucks’ supporting cast was up to that task was also a question. Thus far, they’ve proven their muster. That was evident in the crucial Game 4 win in Boston, when Antetokounmpo went out with foul trouble in a tied game with 8:18 left in the third quarter. The Bucks responded with a 19-9 run, mostly led by George Hill and Pat Connaughton. Toronto’s bench has been subpar in the playoffs. The reserves could give the Bucks a big advantage. Raptors vs. Bucks: Xs and Os After the Celtics’ Kyrie Irving laid 26 points (12-for-21 shooting) on the Bucks in the conference semifinal opener, Budenholzer did something rare for him — he made a defensive adjustment by having his team switch off screens, even if it left Irving with a mismatch. The Bucks provided enough help in the paint to keep Irving honest, and for the rest of the series, he struggled badly, going 25-for-83 from the field in Games 2-5. Leonard presents a different problem than Irving because you need to do more than just keep him away from the rim. He is capable of finishing at the basket, but he can also hit jumpers from 10-16 feet and 16 feet out to the 3-point line. Clogging the paint won’t be enough against Leonard. Middleton has had success defending him, but Leonard has been a different player in this postseason. Budenholzer might go back to not switching defensively, but you have to wonder whether he will also call for double-team help on Leonard if he starts figuring out Middleton’s approach. NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: Trail Blazers vs. Warriors Raptors vs. Bucks: The prediction<doc-sep>The Eastern Conference Finals is set with a matchup between the conference's top two teams all season. What will be the biggest factors in determining which team comes out on top? Our NBA.com experts weigh in on what to watch for in this series. The Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 to advance to their second Eastern Conference Finals in franchise history. The Milwaukee Bucks, who defeated the Boston Celtics in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, have been ready for their opponent for a few days now. In a battle between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference all season long, our NBA.com experts take a look at one thing to keep an eye on in this series. Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_): Can the Bucks bench keep the same level of production? Part of the reason the Bucks made quick and easy work of the Celtics was because of the production from their bench: Milwaukee's second unit outscored the Boston's in four of the five games in the series. George Hill's incredible play led the way; he posted 14.2 points per game on 59.6 percent shooting from the field and 47.4 percent from long range for the series, outplaying Kyrie Irving. He single-handedly outscored Boston's bench in Games 3 and 4, and with Malcolm Brogdon out for the majority of that series, he stepped up in a big way to help his team advance to the Conference Finals. Pat Connaughton found a way to make an impact in every game, too. Whether it was 3-point shooting, rebounding or just straight up out-hustling guys, Connaughton made his presence felt and his minutes count in every game. With the return of Brogdon, that Bucks bench grows even deeper. Toronto's second unit had its glaring struggles in the series against the 76ers but was able to overcome it with a couple of solid games from Serge Ibaka, among others. If Milwaukee's bench keeps the same production, Toronto's bench will have to step up. It could otherwise be the deciding factor in the series. Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles): I'm looking forward to seeing how Khris Middleton matches up with Kawhi Leonard. According to NBA.com, Middleton defended Leonard more than any other defender in the league this season. He limited Leonard to 36 points when they were matched up together, holding him to 11-for-27 shooting from the field (40.7 percent) over three games. The matchup data isn't perfect, but the video backs some of those numbers up. Middleton is a smart defender when he's locked in and he matches up well enough physically with Leonard to keep up with him. It helps that Middleton has Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo behind him, both of whom were among the best rim protectors in the league this season. Will Middleton have similar success in this series? If he does, it would go a long way in slowing the Raptors down because it would prevent the Bucks from having to double team him as aggressively as the 76ers did in the previous round. Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21): Can Serge Ibaka replicate his regular-season success against Milwaukee? Ibaka did some of his best work in the regular season against the Bucks, averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 blocks over four games. Among these games was Ibaka's 30-point, nine-rebound performance (on 12-for-21 shooting) as well as a 25-point, nine-rebound, five-assist performance in Toronto's lone win over Milwaukee this season. It's no secret that the Raptors second unit has struggled this postseason, but if Ibaka were to reprise his multifaceted role against the Bucks in the Conference Finals it would mean one of two things for the team, both are positive. Re-inserting Ibaka into the starting unit would mean he would match up with Brook Lopez defensively, which is much more favourable for Toronto as Lopez spends plenty of time on the perimeter, a difficult task for Marc Gasol. Bringing Gasol back off the bench could be positive for the struggling second unit, that could benefit from his playmaking ability and passing skills. If the lineups remain the same, increased offence from Ibaka can set the tone for the second unit and potentially relieve the pressure placed on Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell to produce. One way or another, high-level play from Ibaka will influence the Raptors bench to turn it around, which only improves their chances to advance to the Finals. Benyam Kidane (@BenyamKidane): The point guard matchup between Eric Bledsoe and Kyle Lowry While Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam have been the undoubted stars of the Raptors' playoff campaign, Kyle Lowry could hold the key to their ability to get past the Bucks. The point guard had his struggles against the Sixers, at times going missing for long stretches, which were more often the games that ended in losses for the Raptors. Matching up with Eric Bledsoe in the Eastern Conference Finals will be a tough test for Lowry, with the Bucks point guard fresh off a five-game stretch playing incredible defence against Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics. If Lowry can find ways to score and make Bledsoe work on the defensive end, the Raptors have a legitimate shot to advance to the NBA Finals.<doc-sep>As the Milwaukee Bucks wait for an Eastern Conference Finals opponent to emerge, what should you be looking out for in Game 7 between the Raptors and 76ers? What a position of luxury the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in. Having wrapped up their series with the Boston Celtics and securing a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday, Mike Budenholzer’s team are currently enjoying the chance to rest ahead of their next challenge. All the while, the battle to face Milwaukee has been raging on in the East’s other semifinal matchup. In what’s been a closely contested series overall, the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are set to go the distance. On Sunday in Toronto, the prize for a Game 7 victory will be a series of dates with the Bucks starting from Wednesday. As a result, Bucks fans will be among the most interested observers when the action gets underway, but what will they likely be keeping an eye out for? Considering what they’ve seen so far in the playoffs, their history against both teams from the regular season, and the matchups they’d have to deal with, should Milwaukee even have a clear and obvious preference between the two teams? In truth, the answer to that question is likely a no. The Bucks have dropped only one game in the postseason so far — and could make a strong case that it was no more than an anomaly — while they also prevailed as winners in the regular season series with both of their potential opponents. Having said that, there are still plenty of elements to take into account for those interested in projecting ahead while watching Game 7 play out. First and foremost is how the two team’s star players perform, and perhaps even more importantly, what kind of support they get from those around them. For Toronto, this is likely the make-or-break unknowable hanging over their potential season decider. Kawhi Leonard has enjoyed an exceptional series, consolidating his place as one of the very best players on the planet. In 39.1 minutes per game against Philly, Leonard is averaging 33.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while shooting 56.8 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from deep, and 85.5 percent from the stripe. The fact that he’s playing in a Game 7 in spite of those contributions says all that needs to be said about the hit and miss play of his supporting cast. The Raptors have lacked any real consistency in terms of a second option, with Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol most guilty of failing to deliver in that regard. If neither of those two, or any other Raptor can step up above their usual level, Leonard may well see constant walls as the Sixers dare his teammates to beat them. On the other side of the matchup is Joel Embiid, who in spite of struggling with a variety of illnesses and ailments, has had an absurdly positive influence on Philadelphia’s play. Embiid is averaging just 17.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the series, yet he has a plus/minus of +80 and a net rating of 20.9. Jimmy Butler has been sensational for the 76ers, giving Embiid a clear advantage when compared to the lack of support Leonard is receiving for Toronto. Still, if Embiid can look more like himself on Sunday, the Sixers’ chances of victory will rise exponentially, and they’ll make for a much scarier prospect for the Bucks. The Bucks will have the far superior depth against either team, so the best players performing, and their supporting stars also delivering, remains one of the most important storylines to keep track of. Beyond that, in a pure matchup sense, both teams should prove to be a more straightforward matchup for Milwaukee than the Boston Celtics were. The Bucks should believe they could beat either team, and may well prove they could do so somewhat comfortably. Either winner would add to the narrative for the Bucks too. With the Celtics already dispatched, a chance to beat the Raptors would mean Milwaukee could avenge their past two postseason losses en route to winning the Eastern Conference. Although this iteration of the Bucks has yet to face the Sixers in the playoffs, that franchise stands as the Bucks’ most notable overall playoff rival alongside the Celtics. With excellent Bucks teams of years gone by having failed to get out of the East due to the brilliance of Boston and Philadelphia, there would be some real poetry in Milwaukee finally breaking through again at their expense. Of course, it can’t be forgotten that Milwaukee’s last trip to the Conference Finals, back in 2001, led to a controversial seven-game defeat at the hands of the Sixers too. Bucks fans would love to see this team right that wrong, and that’s without even considering the animosity the two teams have displayed in recent meetings either. Both Philadelphia and Toronto are good teams, but there’s no reason to believe they’re categorically better than the Bucks. The added history with the the Sixers would make them my pick for the most intriguing Conference Finals foe, but either outcome should set up a thrilling series to emerge from the East.<doc-sep>The Toronto Raptors are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history. Kawhi Leonard reacts to his game-winner over the 76ers in Game 7 The Toronto Raptors are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals. Kawhi Leonard scores 41 points including the buzzer-beating game-winner as the Raptors earn a 92-90 win over the 76ers. If you missed any of the action, check below for highlights and more from this decisive Game 7, we have you covered below. Final: Raptors 92, Sixers 90 (Toronto wins 4-3) - KAWHI WINS IT Kawhi Leonard hits a game-winner as time expires to send the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals. - Kawhi Leonard goes 1-for-2 from the line and Jimmy Butler goes the length of the court to tie it up. It's 90-90 with 4.2 seconds remaining. - Joel Embiid knocks down two free throws to cut the deficit to one. It's 89-88 Raptors with 10.8 seconds remaining as Kawhi Leonard is fouled. - The Raptors fail to score and the Sixers come up with the defensive rebound. Toronto leads 89-86 with 24.1 seconds remaining. Philadelphia calls for time and is set to advance the ball for the inbound. - Here's the situation: Toronto has the ball and the lead. It's 89-86 with 33.3 seconds remaining and eight seconds on the shot clock. Timeout Raptors. - Toronto is playing excellent defence down the stretch. A steal from Kyle Lowry as the shot clock winds down leads to a Pascal Siakam layup in transition. Raptors lead 89-85 with 1:14 remaining. Timeout Sixers. - Kawhi. Leonard. Toronto's All-Star knocks down a long two to give the team a two-point lead with 1:41 left. It's 87-85 as Game 7 comes down to the wire. - JJ Redick knocks down a mid-range jumper and is fouled by Serge Ibaka in the process. He sinks the free throw to tie things up. Philadelphia gets a stop on the ensuing possession and calls for time. It's 85-85 with 3:13 remaining in regulation. - Timeout on the floor. There's 3:53 remaining in regulation and the Raptors hold on to an 85-82 lead. Kawhi Leonard has scored the last eight points for Toronto and is up to 36 points in the game to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Serge Ibaka (17 points) and Kyle Lowry (10 points) are the only other two Raptors in double figures. Joel Embiid leads Philadelphia with 19 points while every other starter has at least 13 points. The Sixers bench has scored just eight points. - Kawhi Leonard converts an and-one to give the Raptors a five-point lead but Jimmy Butler responds with two free throws after a drive. 85-82 Raptors with under four minutes to play. - These teams are going back-and-forth! Kawhi Leonard sticks a mid-range jumper to give Toronto a two-point lead. It's 82-80 with under five minutes to play. - This one's got the makings of a game that will go down to the wire. 7:46 remains in regulation and Toronto leads 75-73. Serge Ibaka is up to 17 points (on 6-for-8 shooting) in the game while Kawhi Leonard has a game-high 28 points. Jimmy Butler is warming up as he's hit a few tough buckets in the fourth to bring his total to 11 points in the game. End of Third Quarter: Raptors 67, 76ers 64 - Toronto ends the quarter with a response of its own! After the Sixers led by as many as seven points with its run, the Raptors close the quarter with a number of gutsy plays to take a three-point lead into the final frame. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 11 points in the third quarter and he now has a game-high 26 to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Serge Ibaka has come up big off the bench and is the only other Raptor in double figures with 14 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Philadelphia is paced by 14 points from both Joel Embiid and JJ Redick while Tobias Harris has added 13 points. - Philadelphia has responded with an 11-0 run of its own to regain the lead. Timeout Toronto as it now trails 52-50 with 7:06 remaining in the third. - The Raptors open the half on a quick 6-1 run to get out to a nine-point lead and force the Sixers to call time. The score is 50-41 less than three minutes into the second half. Kawhi Leonard is now up to 19 points on the game with two buckets in the third and Marc Gasol has gotten on the board with an awkward shot from the lane. Halftime: Raptors 44, 76ers 40 - Take a look at some halftime stats https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/77/22/raptors-sixers-game-7-halftime-stats_1kzlkyg4fxexp1hdd9os5u4dk0.png?t=-1366803102&w=500 - Toronto heads into the half with a four-point lead thanks to an acrobatic finish from Kawhi Leonard, who leads all scorers with 15 points and a strong and-one finish from Kyle Lowry, who now has six points despite battling a number of hand ailments. Tobias Harris is 3-for-5 from the field and leads the Sixers with 10 points. Joel Embiid has seven points on 2-for-10 shooting while Ben Simmons has eight points, four rebounds and two assists. - Kyle Lowry sinks a corner trey to get on the board and tie things up at 39 with 2:37 left in the second quarter. Serge Ibaka is up to eight points in the game as he's knocked down both of his 3-point attempts. Tobias Harris has a team-high nine points for the Sixers, who have begun to get their offence going. - A layup from James Ennis III gives Philadelphia its first lead since the midpoint of the first quarter. Timeout Toronto as it trails 34-33 with 4:26 remaining in the half. Ben Simmons leads the Sixers with eight points while Ennis has scored five points in four minutes off the bench. Kawhi Leonard seems to be stuck on 13 points for the time being but Pascal Siakam is up to nine points and seven rebounds in the game.<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.