Norman Powell has no regard for human life, dunks all over the Bucks (Video)

The Toronto Raptors made a statement in Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Norman Powell put an exclamation mark on the game with his dunk on Thon Maker

After the Toronto Raptors fell behind 2-1 to the Milwaukee Bucks, it felt like the sky was falling. Expectations for Raptors fans are already sky high, considering this is the best team they’ve ever assembled, but regardless, a higher seed isn’t supposed to lose the way they did in Game 3. But they have since responded with two strong performances to take a 3-2 series lead.

An ongoing narrative surrounding the Raptors is how Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan struggle during the playoffs. They need to play well for the Raptors to win, but in Game 5 against the Bucks, it was the supporting cast that made a difference. Serge Ibaka brought tons of energy on both sides of the floor, DeMarre Carroll looked like the Atlanta Hawks version of himself, and Norman Powell led his team with 25 points.

Powell only missed three shots all game, including going 4-of-4 from deep. He had some big dunks, too, but none bigger than this baptism of Thon Maker late in the fourth quarter:

Considering how well Powell’s been playing, you’d think he was an important contributor to the Raptors. However, he’s only had 18 starts all season while averaging a little over 18 minutes. He played 21 minutes combined in the first three games of this series before Dwane Casey changed the starting lineup and replaced him with Jonas Valanciunas. The adjustment has paid immediate dividends as the Raptors have come out with their two best games of the playoffs.

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It’s possible that Powell wants to remind the Bucks of what could’ve been. They dealt both of their picks in 2015 to the Raptors for Greivis Vasquez, and he’s made them pay for it ever since. With the way Powell’s been playing, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s the one that closes out the series in Game 6.