NBA

Raptors end losing streak after 15 games

Kelly Olynyk of the Raptors (left) in a duel with Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks (center),(Bild: AP)

The Toronto Raptors have ended their losing streak in the North American professional basketball league NBA without Jakob Pöltl, who is still injured. After 15 losses in a row, the Canadians surprisingly won 117:111 at the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday (local time). Austria's NBA legionnaire Pöltl suffered a finger injury to his left hand a month ago in the Raptors' last win against the Charlotte Hornets and has been out of action ever since.

For the Raptors it was the second longest losing streak in club history, only in the 1997/98 season did the Canadians lose 17 in a row. In the away game against the Bucks, who were missing superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a thigh injury, Gary Trent Jr. (31 points), RJ Barrett (26) and Immanuel Quickley (25) led the Raptors to their 24th win in the 77th game of the season.

Play-offs out of reach
The play-offs have long been out of reach for Toronto in twelfth place in the Eastern Conference. For the Bucks, currently second in the East, it was their third defeat in a row.