Bucks Zone

Damian Lillard's buzzer-beating triple lifts the Milwaukee Bucks over the Sacramento Kings

Dame saved the Bucks from an embarrassing defeat.

Matthew Dugandzic

Bucks guard Damian Lillard gets a hug from Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Damian Lillard saved the Milwaukee Bucks from what could have been a disheartening loss after he sank a buzzer-beating triple that lifted the Milwaukee Bucks to a dramatic 143-142 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Dame’s heroics sealed Milwaukee’s 15th-straight win over Sacramento, which is the longest active win streak against an opponent. The game-winning triple was also Lillard’s 2,500th three-pointer as the Bucks ended their four-game homestand at 2-2.

Milwaukee won its third-straight game to improve 28-12 in the season and 19-4 at home. The victory, however, didn’t come easy.

Could have won it in regulation

Milwaukee had the chance to win it in regulation when it took a 127-124 lead with only 11.7 seconds left. To prevent a potential game-tying triple, Malik Beasley intentionally fouled De’Aaron Fox.

Beasley may have given the foul too early, as it only took 1.5 seconds off the clock, and Fox was yet to make a move way beyond the three-point area. De'Aaron made two free throws that cut Milwaukee's lead to one, 127-126, with 10.2 seconds left.

With 8.6 seconds remaining, the Kings then fouled Giannis Antetokounmpo, who made the first free throw but missed the second. Fox then hit a layup over Antetokounmpo that tied the game at 128-all with one second left. Lillard then missed a desperation three from beyond midcourt that sent the game into a five-minute extension.

Frenetic ending

The Kings took a six-point lead early in the extension period, but the Bucks came back and tied the game at 136-all. Sacramento appeared headed to the win when it took a 141-137 lead with just 33.9 seconds left.

The Kings bungled a golden chance to ice the win when Malik Monk missed two free throws with 18.4 seconds left. Monk’s two missed freebies proved costly as Brook Lopez dropped a three-pointer that pushed the Bucks within 140-141 with 11.5 ticks to go.

Fox was sent to the free throw line but missed his first attempt before making the second. Lillard then inbounded the ball to Lopez, who passed it back to Dame.

Lillard then dribbled across the half-court and let loose a shot from about 30 feet. The shot hit nothing but the bottom of the net as time expired, sending the Milwaukee players and the crowd into a frenzied celebration.

Lillard paced the Bucks with 29 points. Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 27 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists.

Malik Beasley tallied 23 points, and Bobby Portis Jr. added 22 for Milwaukee, which played without Khris Middleton (rest).

Domantas Sabonis had his own triple-double for the Kings with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists. Fox scored 32 points, Monk added 28, while Kevin Huerter chipped in 26 points and ten boards for the Kings, who fell to 23-16 in the season.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.