Bobby Portis Calls for Unity as Milwaukee Bucks Continue to Struggle Without Giannis

The Milwaukee Bucks were hoping to build on their big win over the Boston Celtics earlier in the month, but that momentum has faded fast.

Playing without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for a fifth straight game, the Bucks fell 111-105 to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum and dropped to 11-17 on the season.

Milwaukee has now lost 12 of their last 15 games and sits in tenth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Raptors, meanwhile, improved to 17-11 and hold the third seed in the East after winning back-to-back road games.

Despite the loss, Bobby Portis put together one of his best performances of the season with 24 points and 12 rebounds in 39 minutes of action.

After the game, the veteran big man shared what he believes the team needs to do moving forward.

"I just think the biggest part is pulling together," Portis said. "Ignore the outside noise. Obviously it's going to amplify whether we win or lose. Just ignore the outside noise and just stay together in the locker room. We're all we got, for real. It's like a cliched saying, but it is what it is. We're all we got in this locker room."

It's a direct message, but one that matters for a team that has been going through a rough stretch.

The Bucks are 2-8 without Antetokounmpo this season, and his absence continues to show just how much they rely on him at both ends of the floor.

Portis is now averaging 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and an impressive 44.7 percent from three-point range.

Thursday's double-double was his second of the season and moved him into third place all-time for double-doubles by a reserve in NBA history with 82, passing Roy Tarpley on the list.

The Bucks got within three points in the fourth quarter after Portis knocked down a three-pointer to make it 91-88, but they could never take the lead back.

Toronto's Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram each scored 24 points to lead the Raptors, and their physical play inside made the difference down the stretch.

Things won't get any easier for the Bucks, as they head out on a five-game road trip starting Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Milwaukee will play only three home games over their next 14 contests, making this a critical stretch for a team trying to stay in the playoff picture until Antetokounmpo returns from his right calf strain.

For now, Portis and the rest of the roster will have to keep fighting and leaning on each other while their superstar recovers.