- Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 108-102 in a stunning NBA game on Sunday
- The Bucks had to overcome a whooping 26-point deficit to comeback and win the match
- Damian Lillard scored 17 points while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 15
In a stunning display of resilience, the Milwaukee Bucks orchestrated the largest comeback in the NBA this season, overturning a 26-point third-quarter deficit to secure a 108-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Facing a daunting 81-55 score with 9:08 remaining in the third quarter, the Bucks mounted an extraordinary 58-21 run, outscoring the Trail Blazers by an impressive 32 points for the remainder of the game. Milwaukee’s dynamic duo, featuring the stellar performances of Damian Lillard with 17 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo contributing 15, outscored the Trail Blazers single-handedly during this remarkable comeback.
Bucks forward Bobby Portis highlighted the team’s resilience, stating, “Just being resilient and staying with it. Things weren’t going our way. We’re missing bunnies, missing layups, turning the ball over, but we had a chance to watch some things at half, correct some things and then go out there in the second half and give it our all.”
The Bucks, despite playing without forward Khris Middleton due to tendinitis in his left Achilles, clinched a comeback victory, improving their season record to 12-5. Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, addressing Middleton’s absence, mentioned that the player’s status was day-to-day, with no specific timeline for his return.
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“I think things are promising,” Griffin stated before Sunday’s game. “We’ll see [about playing Tuesday]. We’ll just keep evaluating him every day and see how he feels each day.”
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 as the Bucks comeback from 26b points down to defeat Portland Trail Blazers. | PHOTO: ESPN |
Sunday’s game held a significant narrative as it marked the first time Damian Lillard faced his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent the initial 11 years of his illustrious career. Lillard, who requested a trade this summer and was subsequently moved to Milwaukee before the start of training camp, acknowledged the peculiar nature of the matchup during a postgame walk-off interview with Bally Sports Wisconsin.
“Once I walked in, I saw a lot of familiar faces, I thought about going into the visitors’ locker room for a second, but I was like, man, this is a little bit different,” said Lillard, who scored an impressive 31 points against his former team. “When we got on the court, I saw everybody, and it’s a weird feeling. But once we started playing, I got over it quick.”
Lillard’s outstanding performance against Portland elevated him to a unique milestone, becoming the 15th player in NBA history to score 30 points against 30 different franchises, as per the Elias Sports Bureau.
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The game also marked the second consecutive occasion where both Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 30 points. They became the second pair of Bucks teammates to achieve this feat, following Marques Johnson and Brian Winters in 1978.
“As the season moves forward, we’re going to figure out ways to play with one another,” Antetokounmpo expressed. “Be more effective, be more efficient with one another, know one another’s spots. We are getting to that point. We are really getting to that point.”
Antetokounmpo emphasized the evolving synergy between him and Lillard, stating, “At the end of the day, Dame has to be Dame. I have to be me. As the games go on, we’re going to keep on figuring ourselves out. The moment we are clicking on a higher level, it’s going to become even scarier as we move forward.”
In conclusion, the Milwaukee Bucks’ extraordinary comeback against the Portland Trail Blazers not only showcased their tenacity and resilience but also highlighted the budding chemistry between star players Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. As the season progresses, the Bucks aim to build on this momentum, creating a formidable force that could potentially make waves in the NBA.
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