Alijah Martin scored a career-high 27 points, shooting 9 of 11 overall and 6 of 7 from 3-point range to help the short-handed Toronto Raptors defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 121-107 in an Emirates NBA Cup game Friday night at Fiserv Forum.
The Raptors outscored Milwaukee 70-47 in the second half to improve to 1-1 in East Group A. RJ Barrett matched Martin with 27 points for Toronto, which played without seven-time All-NBA selection Kawhi Leonard due to a knee injury, two-time All-Star Scottie Barnes with a groin strain, and starting guard Immanuel Quickley because of a hamstring issue. Leonard missed his seventh straight game.
Short-handed Raptors trail rebuilding Bucks 29-24 in NBA Cup action. Alijah Martin leads Raps w 11 points in 7 minutes. Raps have given up nine offensive rebounds, which has hurt their cause, but after being down by 13 midway through first Raps have clawed their way back in.
Entering Friday’s matchup, Martin had gone just 6 of 27 on 3-point attempts in his career and had not scored more than nine points in any of his previous 30 career appearances. The 2025 second-round pick from Florida had totaled only 23 points across seven games this season before his breakthrough performance.
Toronto Bench Scoring Offsets Missing Starters
Toronto received double-digit scoring contributions down the roster to offset its missing starters. Jamal Shead added a career-high 16 assists alongside 10 points, while Collin Murray-Boyles and Jakob Poeltl chipped in 19 points each.
Raptors need a lot more from Barrett in this situation. 8 points on 7 shots: not great, but it's been rougher on the defensive end, where the Bucks are attacking him every chance they get. A team-worst -22 in 15 minutes.
For Milwaukee, Tyler Herro recorded 23 points and 10 assists. Rookie Brayden Burries set career highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The loss dropped the Bucks to 0-1 in NBA Cup group play and 1-8 overall, marking their slowest start since the 1993-94 season when they lost 10 of their first 11 games and finished 20-62.
The Bucks have experienced a difficult transition period following the departure of Giannis Antetokounmpo, relying on a younger rotation under coach Doc Rivers and assistant Darvin Ham that features Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware acquired from Miami.
The Raptors' first defensive rebound of the game comes after 9 (NINE!) minutes. The Bucks got an offensive rebound on each of their first 7 (SEVEN!) misses.
Turning the Tide in the Second Half
Trailing by as many as 15 points, Toronto captured its first lead at 71-69 when Martin hit a 3-pointer with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter. Tyler Herro answered 22 seconds later with his first 3-pointer of the night to spark a 10-2 Milwaukee run, pushing the hosts ahead 79-73.
The Raptors responded immediately by scoring the next nine points, taking the lead for good on Allen Graves’ three-point play with 2:17 left in the third period. Barrett averaged 20.9 points per game entering the contest and carried a heavy offensive burden during the road trip while dealing with defensive adjustments from opponents.
Both teams entered the game struggling with free-throw efficiency, ranking near the bottom of the league in charity-stripe percentage alongside Minnesota.
Upcoming Schedule for Toronto and Milwaukee
The Toronto Raptors return home to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
We're done & Raps have weirdest & maybe most impressive win of the season @Bucks. Alijah Martin goes off for 27, RJ w 27. Jamal Shead a career-best 16 assists, Poeltl season-high 19pts & Raps win 121-107 without Barnes, IQ or Kawhi. Improve to 5-4; 2-2 on trip & 1-1 in Cup.
The Milwaukee Bucks remain at home to host the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Matchup
What is the current record of the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Cup group play?
Following Friday’s game, the Toronto Raptors hold a 1-1 record in East Group A, while the Milwaukee Bucks sit at 0-1. Both teams share the group with Detroit, Orlando, and Brooklyn.
Who are the missing key players for the Toronto Raptors?
The Raptors played without Kawhi Leonard due to a knee injury that has sidelined him for seven consecutive games, Scottie Barnes because of a left groin strain, and Immanuel Quickley due to a hamstring injury.
What were Tyler Herro and Brayden Burries’ statistics in the game?
Tyler Herro recorded 23 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, while rookie Brayden Burries established new career highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
🏆 FRIDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏆 Alijah Martin drops a career-high 27 PTS as the @Raptors win in @emirates NBA Cup Group Play! RJ Barrett: 27 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST Collin Murray-Boyles: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 4 STL Jakob Poeltl: 19 PTS, 11 REB, 3 STL Jamal Shead: 10 PTS, 16 AST, 2 STL https://t.co/XM2TPol3r9 pic.twitter.com/5we9g6V5fP
More on Alijah Martin
First lead of the night. Great pass by RJ Barrett and a huge shot by Alijah Martin!! pic.twitter.com/xM2rT8Ie6Z