In a dominant display, the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Damian Lillard’s dynamic performance, decisively defeated the Detroit Pistons with a score of 146-114 during Saturday’s NBA action. Lillard’s impressive 33 points, complemented by Bobby Portis’ season-best 31 points and 12 rebounds, demolished the Pistons to extend their losing streak to 22 in a row.
The game was virtually decided in the first quarter when the Bucks surged to a 24-point lead, leaving the Pistons struggling to keep up. This loss marked Detroit’s 23rd consecutive defeat, equating them to the third-longest single-season losing streak in NBA history. Lillard scored 13 straight points for Milwaukee in a pivotal stretch of the first quarter.
“I thought our leaders were leaders tonight,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “There was no messing around. I thought that in the locker room, there was a seriousness before the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons Updates
Portis highlighted the importance of maintaining intensity against lower-ranked teams. Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists following his record-setting 64-point performance in a recent game against the Indiana Pacers. Bucks coach Adrian Griffin praised the team’s leadership and focus.
“Sometimes those games can be trap games,” Portis said. “I don’t like to say it, but you kind of just play down to the level of who you’re playing, and you kind of take your foot off the gas and kind of relax and let them hang around the whole game.”
“In the fourth quarter, it’s a tight game, and you try to turn it on,” Portis explained. “I like how we kind of started from the jump, jumped on them early, and kind of controlled the game throughout the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons Updates
Detroit’s losing streak is reaching historic levels. The Pistons lost heavily to Philadelphia the previous night, and struggled again against one of the East’s leading teams, with the Bucks in control throughout.
Pistons coach Monty Williams expressed frustration over the team’s inconsistent performance. Cade Cunningham and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25 and 24 points for Detroit, respectively.
“We can’t afford to start games without the grit and toughness that we display at times,” Williams said. “We just haven’t been consistent with it.”
The Bucks were without Malik Beasley and managed Khris Middleton’s playtime due to health and recovery considerations. In their absence, MarJon Beauchamp, making his season’s first start, scored the game’s initial seven points.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons Updates
Portis’s scoring was his highest since joining the Bucks. Beauchamp and Cameron Payne contributed 11 points each, and rookie Andre Jackson Jr. had a notable game with career-highs in points and rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to face the Atlanta Hawks, while the Bucks will host the Houston Rockets in their upcoming games.
