Damian Lillard leads Bucks to close win over 76ers with 39 points in Milwaukee debut

May 04, 2024

Damian Lillard put up 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his first game with the Milwaukee Bucks, a 118-117 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:

How Lillard looked in his Bucks debut

The problems that Antetokounmpo and Lillard can create for defenses were clear after just 24 minutes tonight. Antetokounmpo talked about being rusty throughout the preseason and that showed in the first half of Thursday’s game, but it didn’t matter. Lillard scored 21 points in the first half, including 17 points in the second quarter, which helped the Bucks build a nine-point halftime lead.

And then, Lillard showed exactly why he has been one of the league’s most lethal clutch scorers for the last decade. To close the game, the Bucks just put the ball in his hands and let him go to work. And Lillard delivered in a major way, scoring 14 points in the final four minutes. — Eric Nehm, Milwaukee Bucks writer

Highlight of the game

Damian Lillard's first three as a Buck leads to a four-point play 🔥

🎥 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/BVo6XojnzJ

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) October 27, 2023

Required reading

(Photo: Jeff Hanisch / USA Today)

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