© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks turn back the Portland Trail Blazers to complete the season’s largest comeback
Starting out flat is something that has become a common occurrence for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.
On Sunday, the Bucks had another lackluster start, but unlike in previous instances, they were able to finish strong.
Milwaukee completed what is by far the season's biggest comeback when they turned back the Portland Trail Blazers, 108-102, and preserved their hot streak at the Fiserv Forum.
Terrible start
With their seventh-straight win at home, the Bucks improved to 12-5 to stay in second place in the Eastern Conference. In Milwaukee's five losses, the Bucks trailed at the end of the first quarter.
Against Portland, the Bucks ended the first period down by five points, 26-31. The struggle continued in the second quarter, and the Bucks saw themselves trailing by 16 at the half, 52-68.
The Bucks fell to a deeper hole early in the third quarter when the Blazers built their most significant lead at 81-55.
Biggest comeback in more than a decade
Milwaukee still trailed by 13 points at the end of the third, 75-88, but turned the tide in their favor in the fourth, where they outscored the Blazers, 33-14, to seal their largest come-from-behind win in over a decade.
The team's previous most significant come-from-behind victory in a decade happened last Nov. 26th, 2012, when it overhauled a 27-point deficit in scoring a 93-92 win over Chicago.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists. The Greek Freak also scored on a tip-in that gave the Bucks a 104-102 lead with only 18.5 seconds left.
Damian Lillard dropped 31 points on his former team and sealed Milwaukee's win by scoring the game's last four points via free throws.
Jerami Grant led Portland with 22 points, while Malcolm Brogdon added 18 and dished out 12 assists.
Deandre Ayton also finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but the Blazers still absorbed their fifth straight loss on the road to drop to 4-12.
