MILWAUKEE — In a commanding performance, Damian Lillard scored 29 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 125-96 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday. This win marked the Bucks’ fifth consecutive triumph.
Although Lillard seemed to be on the verge of achieving his fourth career triple-double, his record was adjusted when a rebound he was credited with was taken away before he exited the game with less than four minutes to go.
The game experienced a delayed start, pushed back by an hour due to the Bucks’ complications in departing from New Orleans, which had recently been blanketed by a historic snowstorm earlier in the week. Their planned game against the Pelicans on Wednesday was postponed, leading to their flight arriving in Milwaukee fewer than three hours before tip-off.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed significantly for Milwaukee, finishing the night with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, Gary Trent Jr. achieved a season-high of 21 points, impressively making 7 of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc.
On the Miami side, Kel’el Ware led with 22 points and secured 10 rebounds, while Tyler Herro added 21 points and nine assists. The Heat were without star player Jimmy Butler, who began serving a two-game suspension due to what the team described as ongoing issues with team rules and conduct.
Despite needing to step up in Butler’s absence, Miami struggled to contain the Bucks, unable to take advantage of Milwaukee’s stress from travel.
The Bucks found themselves trailing 18-3 midway through the first quarter. However, they managed to rally back and kept their offense dynamic, scoring over 120 points for the fifth consecutive time this season.
One pivotal moment occurred when Lillard scored six points in just 1.1 seconds at the end of the first half, extending the Bucks’ lead to 71-55. Lillard was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson and subsequently sank all three free throws. Making matters worse for the Heat, following a turnover involving an errant inbounds pass from Ware, Lillard nailed a corner three-pointer.
Notably, Lillard’s impressive performance unfolded despite him not scoring for the first 18 and a half minutes of play.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to the court on Saturday. The Heat will take on the Brooklyn Nets, while the Bucks will start a four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers.
