The Toronto Raptors' hot streak is over.
Former Raptor Charlie Villanueva had 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a 96-85 win over Toronto last night, the Bucks' first victory since their leading scorer Michael Redd suffered a season-ending injury. Chris Bosh had 18 points and nine boards to top Toronto (19-29), while Andrea Bargnani and Jermaine O'Neal finished with 16 points apiece.
Luke Ridnour chipped in with 15 points for the Bucks (23-27), while Andrew Bogut added 13 in his first game back after missing eight straight with back spasms.
Jose Calderon, who was chasing the NBA record for consecutive free throws, saw his run come to an end when he missed the second of two attempts with 3:32 left in the game, eliciting a gasp from the crowd. The Raptors point guard finished with 11 assists on the night, plus seven points.
Toronto went into the game playing some of their best Basketball this season, and appeared to have turned a corner, their three-game winning streak putting an end to a miserable seven-game skid.
But they never led Milwaukee by more than six points - that early in the night - and trailed 70-59 heading into the final 12 minutes.
The Bucks stretched their lead to 18 points and then were up 16 with just under seven minutes to go when O'Neal was whistled for an offensive foul on Luc Mbah a Moute that enraged the Toronto coaching staff and revved up the Raptors, along with the crowd of 18,791 at the Air Canada Centre.
A basket by O'Neal cut the Bucks' lead to 86-78 with 3:59 left, but Toronto would come no closer. O'Neal was ejected with 2:04 to go after picking up his second technical foul in a scuffle with Bogut and Villanueva. The Raptors centre left the floor to a standing ovation, the last time Toronto fans would cheer as four free throws by Ridnour secured the win for Milwaukee.
The Bucks outshot the Raptors 47 per cent to 43 per cent, and edged them on the boards 39-36.
Calderon's free throw streak ended at 87, leaving him 10 away from tying the NBA league record set by Minnesota's Micheal Williams in 1993.
NOTES: The Raptors had beaten Milwaukee in four of the Bucks' previous five visits to the ACC.... The Raptors host Orlando on Sunday, then play the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Tuesday before returning home to face the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
