Milwaukee Bucks (2nd) vs Toronto Raptors (7th)

GM Ethan and his defending champion Bucks weren’t exactly thrilled to open the playoffs against Kevin Durant and the dangerous Toronto Raptors. Despite narrowly missing the top seed, the Bucks cruised into the postseason with a strong 59-23 record. The Raptors took the tougher route, earning their spot via the play-in tournament by dismantling the already broken Indiana Pacers on opening night. GM Dylan downplayed his team’s chances but, behind the scenes, was arguably the most active simmer leading up to the clash—giving his underdog squad every possible chance at an upset.

Game 1 – @Bucks 107 def Raptors 106

The Bucks rolled out their youthful, established lineup: SGA at the point, Dort locking in at SG, Wiggins steady at SF, Mobley displaying glitchy length at PF, and the surprise move—veteran Kevon Looney replacing Jakob Poeltl in starting center position. Speed to match Myles Turner appeared to be the motivation for GM Ethan.

The Raptors leaned on their elite duo of Durant and Brunson, but the rest of the starting five—Turner, Coffey, and Powell—was an odd mix. If anyone could make the Coffey just right, it was barrister Dylan.

Game 1 was a barnburner. KD and Brunson brought the fire early, while SGA answered every jab with a haymaker. The Raptors led 71-67 entering the fourth, but it became the SGA Show. The MVP candidate dragged his team over the line, sealing a dramatic 107-106 win in front of the home crowd.

Game 2 – @Bucks 115 def Raptors 106

GM Dylan went straight back to the lab post-Game 1, tweaking the lineup. Out went Coffey and Powell, in came Sims and defensive ace Finney-Smith (ironically a past Ethan favorite). The Bucks stuck to the winning formula, rolling out the same squad once more.

Durant looked supercharged early, pushing the Raptors to a 55-52 halftime lead. But the Bucks dug in during the third quarter, grinding back to an 81-79 edge. Another tense finish saw the champs clamp down defensively to take Game 2, 115-106, and a 2-0 series lead heading to Toronto.

Game 3 – Bucks 116 def @Raptors 112

Down 0-2, Dylan shuffled the once deck again. Out went Sims and Finney-Smith; in came Aaron Wiggins and a fresh cup of Coffey. The Bucks, unwavering, kept their lineup intact.

The new look worked—for three quarters. Behind strong play from Coffey, the Raptors led 88-81 heading into the fourth. But once again the game had an ominous feeling to it. SGA summoned superstar magic, finishing circus layup after layup to steal a road win against all odds. GM Ethan beamed as the Bucks proved championship DNA still matters in a world of 2K chaos. Milwaukee took the series lead to 3-0, leaving Dylan and the Raptors scrambling to find answers.

Game 4 – Bucks 121 def @Raptors 120

Four games, four different starting fives. Dylan gave it one last shake—Finney-Smith was back, this time at PF. Coffey and Powell took seats deep on the bench. The Bucks didn’t flinch—unchanged once more.

This was another instant classic. The lead bounced between squads across three quarters. The Raptors led at halftime, the Bucks by the third, and the final frame became a ping-pong battle—Durant vs SGA. Both stars were unguardable: Durant dropped 54, but SGA poured in a jaw-dropping 73.

Yet again, the Bucks snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, sneaking in front in the dying seconds. The defending champs would advance with a 4-0 sweep that didn’t reflect how tightly contested each game was.

GM Dylan’s frustration is relatable—sometimes there’s just no answer, no matter what moves you make. He built a strong squad that will return with vengeance next season. As for GM Ethan, he should be proud: a clean sweep against a high-quality team with one of the league’s best GMs is no small feat.

This series deserved more than 4 games—everyone was up for grabs. But for fans, it was quality over quantity. Congrats to Ethan, and respect to Dylan. Two of the best GMs in the game putting on a show for the NSL world. Best of luck to Dylan over the offseason and to GM Ethan in the following round as the Bucks get set to face Wizards in a series with incredible viewership potential.