Bucks Fight Off Raptors

Ray Allen answered Vince Carter's challenge. Charles Oakley shoved his coach. Tracy McGrady got knocked woozy by a teammate.

And a hot new rivalry was born.

Allen scored 33 points as Milwaukee beat Toronto 118-97 on Saturday night in a game featuring a fight, three ejections and a bunch of new reasons for the Bucks and the Raptors to dislike each other.

Carter claimed his Friday performance was nothing personal. Allen did the same thing after returning the favor, claiming the whole game was payback for Toronto's 115-110 victory a day earlier.

"That was revenge as a team," Allen said. "There was nothing personal about it. I don't have anything to prove to them. My teammates know what I can do."

But Allen's artistry was colored by a series of unpleasant confrontations between the teams, who had a similar evening Friday in Toronto.

Milwaukee's J.R. Reid and Toronto's Antonio Davis wrestled and shoved each other midway through the second quarter as the simmering tension between the teams boiled over.

Both were ejected, as was Toronto's Charles Oakley moments later after he became enraged by a flagrant foul call and attempted to confront referee Leroy Richardson.

"I just think what happened was incorrect for all parties," Toronto coach Butch Carter said. "(Back-to-back games are) a bad deal, because it ends up turning into a playoff-type situation, and emotios run high."

Milwaukee coach George Karl said the Bucks didn't appreciate the Raptors' rough play Friday, and they responded accordingly.

"There is a professional protocol to protect your teammates," Karl said. "We understood that last night. We understood that tonight. In general, our team did what we were supposed to do."

The game also featured the near-collapse of McGrady, who was hit in the head by teammate Kevin Willis' elbow in the second quarter.

McGrady was taken to a hospital, where a CAT scan was negative. He made the team's flight to Charlotte, but a team spokesman said his status for Monday's game against the Hornets wasn't yet determined.

Oh, and there was the game, a high-octane adventure featuring two teams more interested in scoring than defending.

Toronto beat Milwaukee 115-110 on Friday night. The Bucks scored 42 points in the first quarter Saturday and held a 20-point lead most of the night, allowing the teams to concentrate on their ill feelings.

Allen, who had a bloody nose and a bruised arm after he was clobbered by Oakley and Vince Carter in Toronto on Friday, scored on Milwaukee's first three possessions and had 16 points in the first quarter. He had 23 by halftime as the Bucks ran away.

"Ray was very animated in the locker room," Karl said. "I didn't want him to be too wired. He had a special game for us."

"I'm happy for him, and now it's over," said Vince Carter, who embraced Allen in an awkward, grim hug before the game. The Toronto star bloodied Allen's nose with an elbow on Friday.

"People are trying to make it into a personal battle, and I think that's stupid," Vince Carter said.

Sam Cassell added 24 points and nine assists for the Bucks. Tim Thomas had 20 points and Glenn Robinson added 17.

Doug Christie scored 22 of his 31 points in the second half for Toronto. Vince Carter had 24, but was just 11-of-25 from the field

Allen's focus was evident from the tip. He hit a 3-pointer seven minutes in that gave Milwaukee a 31-12 lead. Allen made his first five shots and finished the quarter with 16 points as the Bucks took a 42-18 lead.

Reid and Davis became entangled under the Bucks' basket five minutes before halftime. The wrestled each other and nearly fell to the ground, though neither threw a punch.

Both coaching staffs ran onto the court as the players gathered. During the scuffle, Oakley and Milwaukee guard Vinny Del Negro began screaming at each other and had to be restrained.

Reid and Davis received fighting fouls and were ejected.

On the next possession, Richardson called a flagrant foul against Oakley after he defended Robinson on a drive. Oakley became enraged and tried several times to reach Richardson, shouting obscenities at the referee while shoving coach Butch Carter and Willis, who were restraining him.

After Oakley left, both teams retreated to their benches but continued yelling and gesturing at each other. Toronto guard Muggsy Bogues received a technical foul moments later, though Bogues said he was yelling at Del Negro and not an official.

"This is going to be a rivalry," Bogues said. "We can't wait to see these guys again."

Notes