Damian Lillard’s previous group took a bit of the shine off his gala homecoming.
Anfernee Simons scored 24 points, consistingof a secret floater with 17.1 seconds left, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks 119-116 on Wednesday night.
Lillard completed with 25 points for the Bucks in their 2nd straight loss under brand-new coach Doc Rivers. Giannis Antetokounmpo included 27 points and 8 rebounds.
It was Lillard’s initially videogame in Portland giventhat he was traded to the Bucks in the offseason. Lillard was the cherished face of the Blazers’ franchise for his veryfirst 11 seasons in the NBA.
“It was a enjoyable night, commemorating a fantastic gamer, a fantastic individual,” Simons stated. “We came in here like we’ve got things we desire to achieve as well. We came in desiring to win the videogame.”
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups stated the minute was not too huge for the young Blazers.
“It felt like simply a huge, huge character win for us,” Billups stated “A culture win for us.”
The Blazers held a narrow lead at the half and kept it close in the 3rd quarter, pulling ahead 86-81 on Matisse Thybulle’s 3-guideline. Simons hit a jumper that offered Portland a 96-61 lead going into the last quarter.
Malcolm Brogdon hit a 3-guideline that extended Portland’s lead to 101-91. Lillard’s 3 closed the space to 101-95 for the Bucks.
Milwaukee pressured Portland down the stretch. Brook Lopez’s 3-tip narrowed it to 113-112, however Jerami Grant addressed with an off-balance jumper for Portland on the other end with 2: 21 left.
Lillard’s layup pulled the Bucks within a point onceagain. Antetokounmpo put the Bucks in front on an ally-oop dunk from Lillard with 37.2 seconds left. But Simons’ floater offered Portland back the lead.
Brook Lopez missedouton a three-pointer with 8 seconds left before Grant made complimentary tosses. Then in the last seconds, the Blazers fouled Antetokounmpo, who missedouton both totallyfree tosses to provide Portland the win.
“There were a lot of things that might haveactually gone incorrect, like a couple of turnovers. Sometimes with a young group that kind of hinders a group, however we stuck with it,” Simons stated. “We were calm and comprehended what we desired to get.”
Deandre Ayton included 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won 2 directly.
Despite the loss, it was Lillard’s night. The eight-time All-Star was dealtwith to a prolonged ovation before the videogame and homages played on the video scoreboard throughout timeouts. At one point, he appeared to be moved to tears.
Lillard’s driving layup was Milwaukee’s initially basket of the videogame.
“These videogames are hard videogames. The home groups desire to beat the guy coming back. You might see it in their festivity over the videogame,” Rivers stated.
It was simply the 2nd videogame for the Bucks under Rivers. The Denver Nuggets ruined his launching on Monday night with a 113-107 triumph.
Rivers took over last week for first-year Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, who was fired after 43 videogames and a 30-13 record. While Milwaukee sits simply behind leaders Boston in the Eastern Conference, there were issues about the Bucks’ slipping defensive score.
Lillard was got simply previously the start of the season to group up with two-time MVP Antetokounmpo in hopes of another NBA title. The Bucks won the champion in 2021.
The Blazers have focused on establishing young skill in Lillard’s lack. Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 total choice in the draft last year, had 15 points in the veryfirst half off the bench.
Portland, 2nd to last in the Western Conference, remained close with the Bucks throughout the veryfirst half. Simons’ 3-tip near the end of the half connected it at 61 and Portland went into the break ahead 67-65.
A kid in the crowd held a indication directed at Lillard that checkout: “Go get your ring then come back home.”
“These types of videogames where there’s a lot of significance and lot of feeling, these are constantly enjoyable,” Lillard stated. “These videogames have a little bit more juice in them. That’s what tonight was. It was an amusing videogame.”
In a news conference before the videogame, Lillard stated his return was surreal.
“Even though I understood I was coming here as a visitor, assoonas I got to my home and took my child to school this earlymorning, it was nearly like you forget that this is roadway videogame,” he stated to more than 3 lots pressreporters.
Lillard stated it hasactually been fantastic being part of a group that has “tasted winning and desires to get back to that,” however likewise stated he imagines himself covering up his profession in Portland one day.
“I think since of how I feel about Portland, how I feel about the company here, my time that I invested here, in my mind I’ve constantly felt that’s how my profession would end,” he stated. “Right now I’m simply in the area of like, this is where I am now. I’m in Milwaukee. I desire an chance to compete, and our group has an chance to compete this years and years to come.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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