Damian Lillard’s much-anticipated return to Portland ended with the rebuilding Trail Blazers narrowly defeating his Milwaukee Bucks 119-116 during Wednesday’s NBA action.
Lillard scored 25 points in the loss, while Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 24 points, including a decisive floater in the final seconds. The game marked Lillard’s first appearance in Portland since his offseason trade to Milwaukee, where he joined forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite Lillard and Antetokounmpo’s combined efforts, resulting in 27 points and eight rebounds from the latter, the Blazers, under the guidance of coach Chauncey Billups, showcased their resilience and team spirit.
“It felt like just a big, big character win for us,” Billups said. “A culture win for us.”
The Blazers maintained a slight lead through halftime and extended their advantage with strategic plays, including a significant three-pointer by Matisse Thybulle.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The game saw several lead changes, especially in the final moments, with Milwaukee taking a brief lead before Simons’ floater reclaimed the advantage for Portland.
“It was a fun night, celebrating a great player, a great person,” Simons said. “We came in here like we’ve got stuff we want to accomplish as well. We came in wanting to win the game.”
Despite a close game, the Blazers held their ground, with Deandre Ayton contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds. The night, however, belonged to Lillard, who received a warm ovation and tributes throughout the event, highlighting his emotional connection to the city and the team he led for 11 seasons.
“These types of games where there’s a lot of meaning and lot of emotion, these are always fun,” Lillard said. “These games have a little bit more juice in them. That’s what tonight was. It was an entertaining game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Doc Rivers, coaching only his second game for the Bucks, acknowledged the intensity of such matchups, emphasizing the challenge of facing a motivated home team.
“These games are tough games. The home teams want to beat the guy coming back,’ Rivers said. “You could see it in their jubilation over the game.”
Lillard’s return was a test of skill and an emotional reunion, blending competitive basketball with heartfelt moments, including a fan’s sign urging Lillard to “get your ring then come back home.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
As the Blazers look to nurture their young talent, including promising rookie Scoot Henderson, and the Bucks continue to adjust under Rivers’ leadership, both teams are setting their sights on future contests, with Milwaukee heading to Dallas and Portland facing Denver next.
