© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Damian Lillard puts on a show as the Milwaukee Bucks win season-opener vs. the Philadelphia Sixers
Damian Lillard had a sensational debut and the Milwaukee Bucks rallied to defeat the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers, 118-117, on Thursday night at the Fiserv Forum.
Lillard erupted for a game-high 39 points, the highest production scored by a debuting Milwaukee player since Terry Cummings had 34 in 1984.
The Bucks leaned on Lillard in the endgame to salvage the win as the seven-time All-Star scored the team’s last 11 points to complete their comeback from an eight-point deficit in the final six minutes.
Big night for the new Buck
Lillard, who was acquired by the Bucks from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team deal in the offseason, went 17-for-17 from the free throw line and 9-of-20 from the field. Dame also had eight rebounds, four assists, and had zero turnover in a game-tying-high 37 minutes of playing time.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. It wasn’t the prettiest game for the Greek Freak as he was just 10-of-22 from the field and 3-of-9 from the free throw line.
Giannis missed all of his three attempts from the three-point range, and also committed a team-high seven turnovers.
Brook Lopez added 13 points, while Bobby Portis Jr. came off the bench to contribute 10 points, six boards, and two assists.
Khris Middleton started but played just 16 minutes and tallied six points, three boards, four assists, and two steals.
“Dame Time” seals the deal
With the Sixers playing without James Harden, who was asked not to travel with the team, the Bucks cruised early, and posted their biggest lead at the four-minute mark of the second quarter, 57-38.
Philadelphia chipped away at the deficit, moving within 54-63 at the half.The Sixers mounted a huge run in the third and rallied within 85-88. Philadelphia stayed hot in the fourth and appeared ready to seal a huge upset when it surged to a 102-94 lead with 6:47 left.
Jae Crowder and Lopez hit back-to-back triples, Giannis scored in the paint that tied the contest at 102 with 4:40 to go.
A layup by Tyrese Maxey put the Sixers ahead anew, but Lillard sank a three-pointer, then Giannis scored on a layup as the Bucks regained the lead, 107-104, with 3:34 left.
Lillard then took over from that point on. He dropped three free throws, converted a three-point play that padded Milwaukee’s lead to 113-104 with only 2:45 left.
The Sixers were just within 111-113 when Dame hit a three-pointer, giving the Bucks a 116-111 lead with only 1:13 left.
Lillard would have outscored the entire Sixers in the final 3:34 if De’Anthony Melton did not hit a meaningless three-pointer just before the final buzzer sounded.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 31 points, while Joel Embiid added 24.
