A Sunday afternoon NBA game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers sparked far more excitement than most had anticipated.
The initial story of the game was set to be Damian Lillard’s debut against his longtime squad. Instead, the focus of the game quickly became the 2023-24 record set by Milwaukee as the Bucks rallied back from a 26-point, third-quarter deficit to defeat the Blazers by a final score of 108-102.
For much of the game, it seemed that the Bucks were set for what easily would have been the team’s worst loss of the season. Instead, Milwaukee tenaciously fought back, unwilling to be embarrassed on their home court. Finishing the game on a stunning 58-21 run, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks, outscoring the entire Blazers team from the nine-minute mark of the third to the final buzzer.
As crucial as the team’s offensive performance was, it was their ability to lock down defensively that truly made the difference. In those final nine minutes of the third quarter, the Blazers made just two of their seventeen attempts from the field. Along with that, they also turned the ball over four times during that run.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
While the Bucks were considered heavy favorites coming into the night against one of the bottom dwellers of the Western Conference, Milwaukee displayed an impressive amount of resilience. Bucks forward Bobby Portis even spoke of that resilience after the game, crediting it for their ability to complete the comeback effort.
With this win, Milwaukee has continued their winning ways even without Khris Middleton, who remains day-to-day, but without a timeline as he continues to work his way back from a bout with tinnitus in his left Achilles.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Updates
The Bucks have now improved to 12-5 on the season and rank second in the Eastern Conference alongside the Orlando Magic. They will next face the Maimi Heat in an In-Season Tournament matchup on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM EST.
