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Giannis-less Bucks stun the Suns behind Lillard's big effort

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Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1710716417927New Project (2).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Eastern Conference Allstar guard Damian Lillard takes a three point shot against the Western Conference Allstars during the first half of the 73rd NBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, 18 February 2024. <em>Brian Spurlock, EPA-EFE/File</em></span></span></span></div><div><span></span></div><p>WASHINGTON (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Damian Lillard delivered with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to a hamstring injury, scoring 31 points and distributing 16 assists in Milwaukee&#x27;s 140-129 NBA triumph over Phoenix on Sunday.</p><p>Reserve Bobby Portis added 31 points and 10 rebounds for the host Bucks, who improved to 44-24 and tightened their grip on second in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>Lillard, the first player in Bucks history with 30 points and 15 assists in the same game, praised Portis and others for stepping up with Greek superstar Antetokounmpo sidelined.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YGIwDGQbJk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>&quot;It was huge,&quot; Lillard said. &quot;One of our biggest strengths is our depth. Bobby Portis is a starter on any other team but for our team he knows what his job is.</p><p>&quot;Down a guy like Giannis, you know everybody is going to have to step their game up. We&#x27;ve been in this situation a couple of times this year and every time he has come through and delivered.</p><p>&quot;I knew I wouldn&#x27;t have to come out and overdo it. Feed him. Feed everybody else, pick my spots and be aggressive.&quot;</p><p>Lillard had 14 points and 12 assists in the first half as Milwaukee took an 82-60 half-time edge, the Bucks matching an NBA record held by the Suns and Utah by making 18 first-half 3-pointers.</p><p>Portis had 25 first-half points on 10-of-13 shooting, going 5-of-5 from beyond the arc as the Bucks went 24-of-41 from 3-point range overall.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s fun after all the work you put in,&quot; Portis said. &quot;Just having good teammates and coaches that believe in you. We go through this marathon 82-game season together and try to build great camaraderie and chemistry.&quot;</p><p>Lillard made 10-of-19 shots from the floor, 7-of-7 free throws and 4-of-8 from 3-point range, including a buzzer-beater from the mid-court logo to give the Bucks a 109-94 lead after three quarters.</p><p>&quot;They probably thought with Giannis out, I was going to just try and force it. I just took advantage of what their defense was doing,&quot; said Lillard. &quot;When we play that way, we play our best -- and I think I play my best.&quot;</p><p>Milwaukee&#x27;s Khris Middleton, who missed 16 games with a sprained left ankle, added 22 points in his return.</p><p>Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points while Grayson Allen added 25 and Devin Booker netted 23.</p><div><strong>- Two epic buzzer-beaters -</strong></div><p>Kyrie Irving sank a left-handed 20-foot floater shot at the final buzzer to give Dallas a 107-105 home victory over Denver, snapping the Nuggets&#x27; five-game win streak.</p><p>Denver&#x27;s Jamal Murray scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a 3-pointer to cap a 20-4 Nuggets run for a 105-102 lead.</p><p>NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic, the Slovenian guard who had 23 of his game-high 37 points in the first half, answered on a 3-pointer and a Murray miss set up Irving&#x27;s winner.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhN1mq_0Ibk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Irving finished with 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Dallas improved to 39-29, seventh in the Western Conference.</p><p>Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who fell to 47-21 and out of a share of the West lead with Oklahoma City.</p><p>Bam Adebayo&#x27;s 30-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer gave Miami a 104-101 victory at Detroit. Adebayo finished with 20 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.</p><p>Miami&#x27;s Duncan Robinson, who scored a game-high 30 points, became the fastest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers, hitting the milestone on Sunday in his 343rd contest, seven fewer than Bahamian Buddy Hield&#x27;s old mark.</p><p>Boston&#x27;s Sam Hauser scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting, all on 3-pointers, before being sidelined by a left ankle sprain in the Celtics&#x27; 130-104 victory at Washington.</p><p>Jayson Tatum also had 30 points for Boston, who improved the NBA&#x27;s best record to 53-14 with a fifth consecutive triumph while NBA-worst Washington fell to 11-57.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AwagRm9nXso?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>French rookie Victor Wembanyama had game-highs of 33 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks plus seven assists to power host San Antonio&#x27;s 122-115 overtime victory over Brooklyn.</p><p>Paolo Banchero scored 29 points to lead host Orlando over Toronto 111-96 while Dejounte Murray&#x27;s 21 points led Atlanta&#x27;s 110-93 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Damian Lillard delivered with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to a hamstring injury, scoring 31 points and distributing 16 assists in Milwaukee's 140-129 NBA triumph over Phoenix on Sunday.</p>

Damian Lillard delivered with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to a hamstring injury, scoring 31 points and distributing 16 assists in Milwaukee's 140-129 NBA triumph over Phoenix on Sunday.

NBA: Giannis-less Bucks stun the Suns behind Lillard's big effort

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NBA: Giannis-less Bucks stun the Suns behind Lillard's big effort

Agence France-Presse

Published Mar 18, 2024 07:00 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 18, 2024 03:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Damian Lillard

nba

milwaukee bucks

phoenix suns

Bobby Portis

abssports

Dallas Mavericks

Kyrie Irving

Denver Nuggets

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