MILWAUKEE — The Portland Trail Blazers claimed a narrow victory over the Milwaukee Bucks with a final score of 105-102 Saturday night, led by Anfernee Simons who contributed 28 points, while teammate Deni Avdija added 19 points.

In a tense finish, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo secured two free throws to put the Bucks ahead 102-100. However, Simons responded by driving to the basket, drawing a foul, and successfully completing a three-point play, which lifted Portland to a 103-102 advantage with only 23.5 seconds left on the clock.

The Bucks then faced a turnover during their next possession, failing to even attempt a shot, thus handing the ball back to the Trail Blazers with just 8.4 seconds remaining. Simons converted two additional free throws with 5.4 seconds on the clock, extending Portland’s lead to 105-102. The Bucks had one final chance to tie the game, but Damian Lillard’s three-point attempt from the left side fell short.

Antetokounmpo finished the game with an impressive 31 points and 11 rebounds, while AJ Green made a significant contribution with 21 points, thanks to his seven successful three-pointers.

Key takeaways from the game include Portland breaking its two-game losing streak, achieving its third win in the last five games. Conversely, Milwaukee is experiencing a rough patch, having lost two consecutive games and four of their last five, all against teams with losing records.

A pivotal moment in the match was Simons’ crucial three-point play, which allowed the Trail Blazers to reclaim the lead for good at 103-102 with just under half a minute to play. Notably, Green’s seven three-pointers equaled his career-best performance.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Monday, with the Trail Blazers traveling to face the Detroit Pistons, while the Bucks will be visiting the Toronto Raptors.