Lillard rose to the occasion against the Sixers.
Damian Lillard led the Milwaukee Bucks to a season-opening 124-109 win over the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers, recording 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Despite missing Khris Middleton, Lillard’s performance and a solid helping hand from Giannis Antetokounmpo was the driving force behind Milwaukee’s offense.
The 76ers, without Joel Embiid and Paul George, relied solely on Tyrese Maxey. However, Lillard and the Bucks began to pull away in the second quarter, outscoring Philadelphia 36-24. By halftime, Lillard had accumulated 15 points in 18 minutes.
In the third quarter, Lillard added another 15 points, making all four of his three-point attempts. His efficient shooting from deep helped widen Milwaukee’s lead.
While Lillard’s shooting from deep sealed the game, Antetokounmpo added 25 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, providing crucial support inside. Maxey scored 25 points but struggled with efficiency, shooting just 10-of-31 from the field, as the 76ers lacked the offensive firepower to match the Antetokounmpo-Lillard duo.
Read More: VIDEO : NBA’s TOP 10 Plays of The Night, Oct. 23rd edition
Users on X had a field day as Damian Lillard’s solid performance drew a lot of reactions.
Despite missing key players—Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Khris Middleton—this matchup between the Bucks and 76ers served as an early glimpse of two top contenders in the Eastern Conference. Damian Lillard’s perimeter scoring and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominant inside play powered Milwaukee in this potential playoff preview.
Lillard attacked off the dribble and excelled from beyond the arc, while Antetokounmpo controlled the paint with quick inside finishes. Milwaukee, with its star duo in sync, now turns its focus to the home opener against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Image Credit: © Bill Streicher- Imagn Images
NBA 
