Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard reacts after making a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Damian Lillard scored 30 points while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 124-109 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in the NBA season opener for both teams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds and seven assists for Milwaukee. Bobby Portis chipped in 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench, while Taurean Prince also had 16 points, fueled by 4-of-5 success on 3-point attempts.
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Tyrese Maxey shot 10 of 31 en route to 25 points for Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are nursing knee injuries. Kelly Oubre Jr. pitched in 21 points, while Andre Drummond had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
READ: NBA: Bucks confident they can contend again if they stay healthy
The Sixers led by one point after the first quarter, and the score remained close for most of the second quarter before the Bucks began to create some separation.
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With Milwaukee ahead 39-37 and less than five minutes left in the half, Lillard converted a bucket to begin a 15-5 run. Prince added a layup and two 3-pointers in the burst as the Bucks opened a 54-42 lead.
Milwaukee was up 58-47 at halftime before erupting for 42 points in the third quarter, including 15 from Lillard.
READ: NBA: Bucks aim to regain status as championship contenders
Prince and Gary Trent Jr. each made two 3-pointers in the first several minutes of the period to begin the uprising. Midway through the quarter, Lillard knocked down a pair of long-range attempts to build the lead to 80-64.
Lillard added two more 3-pointers in the final four minutes of the third quarter to create a 92-73 bulge. Brook Lopez’s 3-pointer with just under a minute left in the third expanded the lead to 20 for the first time.
The Sixers staged a mini-comeback in the fourth quarter, getting within 107-95 on Oubre’s 3-pointer with 6:12 remaining. However, Portis quickly converted a three-point play and the Bucks led comfortably the rest of the way. –Field Level Media
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