Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks for options with pressure from Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes (4) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, October 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
NPITORONTO - Before his Toronto Raptors embarked on the difficult challenge of defending Milwaukee Bucks standout Giannis Antetokounmpo, head coach Darko Rajakovic called the two-time NBA MVP one of the top three basketball players in the world.
After Antetokounmpo poured in a game-high 31 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the Bucks鈥 122-116 win at Scotiabank Arena on Friday, the Raptors head coach described the Bucks鈥 6-foot-11 forward as a force of nature.
鈥淚 think Giannis is Giannis,鈥 Rajakovic said. 鈥淗e can do his thing there. We have to control that better.鈥
鈥淚t's tough,鈥 Toronto point guard Immanuel Quickley added. 鈥淗e puts a lot of pressure on your defence. He鈥檚 almost seven-feet tall, strong, and he can dribble.鈥
Antetokounmpo also nailed a couple of critical three-pointers and added seven assists.
In a game that saw 19 lead changes and was tied on 14 occasions, Antetokounmpo opened with 12 first-quarter points and was held to only four more before halftime. But he was good for another seven points in the third and eight more in the final 12 minutes.
For the most part, Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was assigned the challenging task of guarding Antetokounmpo. Rajakovic considers Barnes one of the NBA鈥檚 elite defenders.
Barnes felt he did a 鈥済reat鈥 job on Antetokounmpo.
鈥淎 great job, making it tough for him, making it not easy,鈥 said Barnes, who chipped in 17 points.
INGRAM SHINES
The Antekokounmpo performance spoiled the home debut of Raptors guard Brandon Ingram. He scored 29 points, including a trio of three-pointers.
The Raptors acquired Ingram in a midseason trade, but he never played for his new team last year, missing the final 56 games with an ankle injury.
JAYS 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 donned different Blue Jays jerseys as they entered Scotiabank Arena. During a timeout, the Okay Blue Jays' seventh-inning stretch song was played.
There were World Series updates in the fourth quarter, and about a third of the 19,615 remained in their seat to watch the opening game.
DODGERS SUPPORTER
Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers revealed he鈥檚 pulling for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Blue Jays in the World Series, citing his friendship with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
鈥淣ow that the Brewers are done, I can be honest about it,鈥 Rivers said.
This report by 好色tvwas first published Oct. 24, 2025.
The 好色tv Press. All rights reserved.
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