A wave of panic has washed over Toronto Raptors fans following, arguably, the team’s most disappointing loss of the season on Sunday afternoon against the depleted New Orleans Pelicans.

After a dreadful first half that saw the Raptors score a season-low 36 points, Dwane Casey decided to switch things up to start the third quarter, electing to go with Greivis Vasquez over the struggling Terrence Ross. The move paid immediate dividends as Toronto outscored New Orleans 34-15 in the frame, turning a 14-point deficit into a 12-point advantage.

Missing their two best players—Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday—the Pelicans were led by Tyreke Evans, who finished with 26 points and drained the game-winning bucket with less than two seconds on the clock.

With the taste of that loss still bitter in their mouths, the Raptors now turn their attention to another undermanned team in the Milwaukee Bucks. Already without star rookie Jabari Parker and shot-blocking centre Larry Sanders, Milwaukee lost reserve point guard Kendall Marshall for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL suffered last Thursday against the New York Knicks.

Watch tonight’s action live at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE or listen on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

Major Storyline 1: Keep on grinding. Milwaukee boasts the league’s third-ranked defence, surrendering only 99.3 points per 100 possessions. Combine that tenacity with Toronto’s recent struggles and the Raptors could be in for a long night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. DeMar DeRozan and Co. must get the ball swinging from side to side and look to make the extra pass. Low-percentage prayers early in the shot clock aren’t going to cut it.

Major Storyline 2: Get off to a quick start. The Raptors average better than 26 first-quarter points per game, good for seventh in the Association. On the flip side, the Bucks rank 24th in opening-frame scoring, meaning Toronto should be presented with the opportunity to build an early lead. Playing on the tail end of a back-to-back, the Raptors can use any cushion Milwaukee will hand them.

Major Storyline 3: How will Ross respond? It’s not easy for a young player to get his confidence back in the midst of a prolonged slump. Ross looks like a shell of his former self these days, and Sunday afternoon’s benching seemed to crush the 23-year-old. How he responds in whatever role Casey gives him moving forward will reveal a lot about his character.

Marquee Player to Watch, Toronto: Kyle Lowry. Toronto’s point man has seen a dip in his efficiency of late, failing to shoot above 50 percent in a game since Dec. 28. Lowry has also been coughing the ball up much more, surrendering 20 turnovers over the past five contests. The rut may not quite rival Ross’s, but the Raptors need their leader to step up and get them over the hump.

Marquee Player to Watch, Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now in his second season, the “Greek Freak” has improved in every aspect of the game, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and one block per outing. Antetokounmpo has also raised his field-goal percentage from 41 to 50. The 20-year-old has also considered testing his charms on Christiano Ronaldo’s ex-girlfriend, so his confidence is clearly through the roof.

Role Player Who Will Make a Difference, Toronto: Greivis Vasquez. Vasquez was one of the few bright spots for the Raptors on Sunday afternoon, scoring 16 points while dishing out nine assists against his former team. With the Venezuelan playing in lieu of Ross, the ball movement improved dramatically. It will be interesting to see what Vasquez can do with an increased workload.

Role Player Who Will Make a Difference, Milwaukee: Khris Middleton. The Bucks sit eighth in the NBA in three-point shooting at 36 percent. Middleton’s 41 percent clip from downtown is a big part of that success, so the Raptors must be wary of him tonight. Additionally, the South Carolina native knows how to force turnovers, swiping at least two steals in each of the last eight games.

Season series vs Bucks: Raptors lead 1-0

Raptors Stats Leaders:

Points: Kyle Lowry/DeMar DeRozan (19.8)

Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas (8.4)

Assists: Kyle Lowry (7.7)

Bucks Stats Leaders:

Points: Brandon Knight (18.2)

Rebounds: Zaza Pachulia (6.6)

Assists: Brandon Knight (5.1)

Verdict: Milwaukee has vastly improved under Jason Kidd’s tutelage in 2014-15, sitting at 21-19. With the Raptors slipping, tonight’s tilt won’t be easy, but remember that the last time these teams met Toronto won by 41 in what has been dubbed ‘The Bruno Game.’ This matchup could be just what the Raptors need to right the ship.