Damian Lillard makes Milwaukee Bucks history in electric debut vs. 76ers

Damian Lillard was once electric in his Milwaukee debut, striking 39 issues at the Philadelphia 76ers in a 118-117 Bucks victory. 

This signature step-back dagger, with simply over a minute to play and the Bucks clinging to a two-point lead, broke the Bucks franchise file for issues in a group debut, which prior to now belonged to Terry Cummings, who scored 34 in his first recreation as a Buck in 1984.

Lillard added 8 rebounds and 4 assists with out committing a unmarried turnover. He wasn’t nice from 3, making simply 4 of 12 from downtown, however two of the ones 3s had been huge in seize time. Lillard additionally were given to the free-throw line 17 occasions and made them involved in a 70-plus true-shooting proportion. That’ll paintings. 

For the entire speak about how best possible Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to be in combination (and they’re going to be), the price they have got to the Bucks when separated cannot be overstated. 

Between the 2, Bucks trainer Adrian Griffin will have a top-five offensive participant at the courtroom all the time by means of staggering their mins, which he did on Thursday. And it labored. Over a three-minute stretch in the second one quarter when Giannis went to the bench, the Bucks prolonged their lead from 8 to 18 thank you to twelve directly issues from Lillard. 

And you understand ultimate time belongs to Lillard. Over the overall 4 mins of the sport, he scored 14 of the Bucks’ 16 issues. 

Credit the Sixers for giving us a extremely aggressive, entertaining appearing in spite of taking part in with out James Harden (Tyrese Maxey is healthier, anyway) scenario, however with the entire distraction he is created. But this was once Lillard’s evening. Just an out of this world debut for an out of this world participant.