Damian Lillard Leads Bucks to Victory Over Clippers Without Giannis Antetokounmpo
In a thrilling game on Monday night, Damian Lillard showcased his incredible skills and led the Milwaukee Bucks to a remarkable comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite the absence of their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks managed to overcome a 15-point deficit in the second half and secure a 113-106 win at the Fiserv Forum. This victory marked their sixth consecutive win since the All-Star break and highlighted the team’s impressive performance under new head coach Doc Rivers.
Antetokounmpo was ruled out of the game just before tipoff due to left Achilles tendinitis, which had been bothering him in recent games. Although he attempted to go through his usual pre-game routine, he decided to cut it short and leave the court. Antetokounmpo, who has been averaging 30.8 points per game and shooting a career-high 61.9% from the field, has only missed three games this season.
“It’s been on and off the last two or three games,” Rivers explained before the game. “This morning he actually looked good… We’ll just figure it out from there.”
The Clippers took advantage of Antetokounmpo’s absence early in the game, establishing a seven-point lead at halftime and extending it to 15 points in the third quarter. However, it was a remarkable 10-0 run at the end of the third period that carried into the fourth quarter, allowing the Bucks to regain momentum. Another crucial turning point came with a 15-0 surge by the Bucks, sparked by a Lillard step-back 3-pointer, which gave them full control of the game. The Bucks stifled the Clippers’ offense for the remainder of the game, allowing only three field goals, two of which came in garbage time.
Lillard was the standout performer of the night, finishing with an impressive 41 points, four rebounds, and four assists while shooting 12-of-22 from the field. Bobby Portis made a significant impact off the bench with 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Patrick Beverley contributed 12 points and nine rebounds. These three players were the only ones to reach double figures for the Bucks.
On the Clippers’ side, James Harden led the team with 29 points and eight assists, followed closely by Paul George with 29 points and five rebounds. Kawhi Leonard added 16 points to the scoreboard. Unfortunately, the Clippers were without veteran guard Russell Westbrook, who underwent hand surgery after breaking his hand on Friday. The team remains hopeful that Westbrook will be able to rejoin them in time for the playoffs. Currently, the Clippers hold a solid 39-21 record, placing them fourth in the Western Conference standings.
Under the guidance of Coach Rivers, the Bucks have found success since the All-Star break. With six consecutive wins, they now sit in second place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 41-21. However, they still trail the Boston Celtics by eight games. The Bucks will embark on a challenging four-game road trip in California, starting with a game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
While it remains uncertain how long Antetokounmpo will be sidelined, if at all, the Bucks have proven that they are more than capable of performing at a high level even without their star player. As they enter the final stretch of the season, it remains to be seen whether their impressive performances will be enough to catch up to the Celtics and secure a higher position in the standings.