Welcome to Milwaukee, Damian Lillard.
The newest star of the Bucks had a sensational debut for his new team, dropping 39 points, including hitting the shot that essentially clinched the Buck’s 118-117 win over the James Harden-less 76ers.
Lillard also picked up eight rebounds and four assists in what was a debut that the Bucks could have only dreamed of.
The highlight of the night was arguably in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter when Lillard went 1-on-1 with Sixers forward Kelly Oubre Jr.
He collected the ball, took a deep step-back 3-pointer and sunk it with a perfect arc.
It capped off a night in which Lillard went 9-of-20 from the field, drilled four 3-pointers and went 17-for-17 from the free-throw line.
According to ESPN, Lillard’s effort was historic in that he became just the second Buck ever to score 30-plus points in a Milwaukee debut.
“It was definitely different,” Lillard said after the game, per the Associated Press. “I think I’ve been in an environment where I come in the arena and know everybody that works in the arena. When I get on the court, I look around and I even recognize the fans that have been there year after year after year. It’s just a super, super familiar environment that I’d been in.
“And when I come here, it kind of feels like a road game right now. It’s like I’m looking around like I’m the new guy, even though I’ve been in this league a long time. … I came in here to be a part of winning, and I think I’ve started to settle in just by how I’ve been embraced and what the team is saying to me behind closed doors.”
On top of that, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who just inked a new extension to stay in Milwaukee, added 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
But Antetokounmpo gave a ton of praise to Lillard’s big night
Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks is interviewed after the Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117. Getty Images
Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard shoots between Philadelphia 76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. and Joel Embiid during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. AP“He had the hot hand,” Antetokounmpo said of his teammate. “You’ve just got to keep on feeding him. What works, you’ve got to keep going to what works.”
Antetokounmpo posted on X after the game a photo of the two with the caption: “Great start,” with two flexing emojis.
With performances like that, the duo is going to be tough to beat throughout the season.
—With AP
