Deni Avdija scored a career-best 30 factors and picked up 9 rebounds and the Portland Path Blazers spoiled Damian Lillard’s return to city for the second straight season with a strong 125-112 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday evening.
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Anfernee Simons registered 25 factors and 7 assists and Deandre Ayton had 21 factors and 14 rebounds because the Path Blazers received for the fifth time previously six video games. Portland additionally accomplished a two-game season sweep of Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 39 factors on 17-of-24 capturing and likewise had 12 rebounds and 5 assists for Milwaukee, which misplaced for simply the third time previously 12 video games.
Lillard scored 20 factors on 7-of-17 capturing and added six assists after receiving a loud ovation earlier than the sport. He performed 11 seasons for the Path Blazers earlier than requesting a commerce previous to the 2023-24 season.
Portland beat Milwaukee 119-116 final season in Lillard’s first return engagement in Portland.
Shaedon Sharpe added 17 factors for the Path Blazers.
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton sat out on the second finish of a back-to-back.
Portland’s Jerami Grant exited early within the third quarter.
Portland led by seven early within the fourth quarter earlier than exploding with 12 straight factors. Simons hit 3-pointers to start and finish the spurt because the Path Blazers took a 111-92 lead with 8:46 left within the contest.
The Bucks trailed 120-105 with 3:23 remaining when coach Doc Rivers waved the white flag and pulled Lillard and Antetokounmpo.
The Path Blazers shot 51.1 p.c from the sector and have been 12 of 28 from 3-point vary. Scoot Henderson added 10 factors and 6 assists.
Milwaukee made 50.6 p.c of its pictures, together with 11 of 35 from behind the arc. Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. scored 11 factors apiece for the Bucks.
Milwaukee crept inside 90-87 on a 3-pointer by Trent with 37.2 seconds left within the third quarter.
Nonetheless, Simons drained a 3-pointer and Avdija made two baskets within the closing 10 seconds as Portland took a 97-89 lead into the ultimate stanza.
Ayton scored 16 first-half factors as Portland led 64-61 on the break. Antetokounmpo had 21 factors within the half for the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo had 16 factors on 8-of-8 capturing within the first quarter as Milwaukee led 36-31.
The Bucks led 47-35 after a 3-pointer by Trent with 9:19 left within the second quarter. Portland later scored 20 of the ultimate 28 factors of the half to take the lead.
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