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The Toronto Raptors will try to stretch their winning streak to seven games when they begin a five-game homestand Monday versus the Milwaukee Bucks. The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors will also welcome Brooklyn, the LA Clippers, San Antonio and Washington to Air Canada Centre, and have an 18-7 mark north of the border.
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Toronto's winning streak reached six games with Saturday's 120-116 overtime triumph against the Washington Wizards, as Kyle Lowry scored seven of his 23 points in overtime and DeMar DeRozan ended with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
"We've got the utmost confidence we're going to win every single game until that clock runs out," DeRozan said.
DeRozan is averaging 16.6 points in 11 games since returning from a groin injury.
The Raptors blew a 21-point lead and allowed 31 points in the fourth quarter. Lou Williams and Amir Johnson scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, for the Raptors, who made 50 percent of their shots and scored 31 points off 22 Washington turnovers.
Before Toronto's winning streak, it had lost eight of 11 games.
The Bucks will try for a season-high four-game winning streak Monday night and are coming off a 95-88 victory versus the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
Jared Dudley had 18 points and O.J. Mayo provided 17 off the bench. John Henson supplied 14 points to go along with eight boards for Milwaukee, which had a 50-44 rebounding advantage and made 45.1 percent of its shots.
"(We were) able to come with that energy and effort against a very talented team in Portland," Milwaukee head coach Jason Kidd said.
Milwaukee, which is 14-12 on the road, will host the LA Lakers next on Wednesday.
Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (groin) is doubtful against the Raptors.
The Bucks have lost the first two meetings with the Raptors this season and are winless in the previous six games in this series. Milwaukee had won 10 in a row against Toronto before the current slide.
[SportsNetwork.com]
