TORONTO — Before his Toronto Raptors began the daunting task of protecting Milwaukee Bucks standout Giannis Antetokounmpo, head coach Darko Rajakovic named the two-time NBA MVP one of the top three basketball players in the world.
After Antetokounmpo scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the Bucks' 122-116 win at Scotiabank Arena on Friday, the Raptors head coach called the 6-foot-11 Bucks forward a force of nature.
“I think Giannis is Giannis,” Rajakovic said. “He can do his own thing there. We need to control it better.”
“It’s tough,” added Toronto point guard Immanuel Quickley. “He puts a lot of pressure on your defense. He's almost seven feet tall, strong and can dribble.”
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Antetokounmpo also hit a pair of crucial 3-pointers and added seven assists.
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In a game that featured 19 lead changes and was tied 14 times, Antetokounmpo opened the scoring with 12 points in the first quarter and only had four more before halftime. But he scored seven more points in the third and eight more in the final 12 minutes.
For the most part, Raptors forward Scotty Barnes was tasked with the difficult task of protecting Antetokounmpo. Rajakovic considers Barnes one of the NBA's elite defenders.
Barnes felt he did a “great” job with Antetokounmpo.
“Great job making it difficult and challenging for him,” said Barnes, who scored 17 points.
INGRAM SHINES
Atecokounmpo's performance spoiled Raptors guard Brandon Ingram's home debut. He scored 29 points, including a trio of three-pointers.
The Raptors acquired Ingram midseason, but he never played for his new team last year, missing the final 56 games with an ankle injury.
Jace fever
With the Toronto Blue Jays opening the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers a few blocks away, there was quite a baseball theme before, during and after the Raptors' home opener.
Most of the Raptors wore different Blue Jays jerseys when they entered Scotiabank Arena. During a timeout, the 7th inning stretch for the OK Blue Jays sounded.
There were World Series updates in the fourth quarter, and about a third of the 19,615 people stayed in their seats to watch the first game.
DODGERS SUPPORT
Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers said he is playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers rather than the Blue Jays in the World Series, citing his friendship with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“Now that the Brewers are done, I can be honest about it,” Rivers said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
