In Milwaukee on Monday night, Damian Lillard more than performed.
At Fiserv Forum, without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lillard scored 41 points to help the Bucks overcome a 15-point deficit in the second half and defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-106. Following the All-Star break, it was the Bucks’ sixth straight victory and another strong showing under new head coach Doc Rivers.
Shortly before the game began, Antetokounmpo was declared out due to left Achilles tendinitis, a problem Rivers claimed the star player has been dealing with lately. He onto the court for his customary warm-up, but he soon ended it abruptly and walked out. Antetokounmpo, who is shooting a career-high 61.9% from the field and has averaged 30.8 points,
Additionally, it appeared like the Clippers made the most of his absence right away. They led by seven points at the half and rapidly increased that lead to fifteen points in the third quarter.
Nevertheless, the Bucks were able to tie the game at the end of the third quarter thanks to a 10-0 run that continued into the fourth. The Bucks then repeated the feat just after the half, following a 3-pointer by Paul George. Lillard’s step-back 3-pointer gave them a quick 15-0 run that gave them complete control of the game. For the remainder of the game, the Bucks limited the Clippers to only three field goals, two of which came during excessive waste time.
Lillard shot 12-of-22 from the field to finish with 41 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the victory. Patrick Beverley concluded with 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Bobby Portis scored 28 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. The three Bucks players who scored in double figures were the only ones.
James Harden led the Clippers with a final total of 29 points and eight assists. Kawhi Leonard finished with 16 points, and Paul George scored 29 points and five rebounds while shooting 10 of 17 from the field. Russell Westbrook, a veteran guard for the Clippers, broke his hand on Friday and had hand surgery on Monday. The group is hoping he can get back to them in time for the postseason. Clippers have a 39–21 lead.
With regard to the Bucks, they appear to be making progress under coach Rivers, who took over for Adrian Griffin shortly before the All-Star break. Despite being eight full games behind the Boston Celtics, they have won six straight games and are currently second in the Eastern Conference rankings with a 41-21 record on the year. Starting on Wednesday, the Bucks will travel to California for a four-game road trip to play the Golden State Warriors.
When the season approaches its last stretch, the Bucks appear more than capable of competing with or without Antetokounmpo, but it’s uncertain how long he will be out of commission, if at all. It’s unclear, though, if it will be sufficient to overtake the Celtics.
