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Damian Lillard greater than stuffed in on Monday night time in Milwaukee.
Lillard dropped 41 factors and helped lead the Bucks out of a 15-point gap within the second half to knock off the Los Angeles Clippers 113-106 at Fiserv Discussion board with out Giannis Antetokounmpo. It marked the Bucks’ sixth straight win popping out of the All-Star break, and yet one more stable efficiency beneath new head coach Doc Rivers.
Antetokounmpo was dominated out of the sport shortly earlier than tipoff with left Achilles tendinitis, one thing Rivers stated had been a difficulty for the star over the previous couple of video games. He took the court docket for his regular pre-game routine, however finally lower it quick and left. Antetokounmpo — who has averaged 30.8 factors and is capturing a career-high 61.9% from the sector — has missed simply three video games this season.
“It’s been on and off the final two or three video games,” Rivers stated earlier than the win, via ESPN. “This morning he truly appeared good … We’ll simply determine it out from there.”
The Clippers appeared to take full benefit of his absence early, too. They took a seven-point lead at halftime, and pushed that to fifteen factors shortly within the third quarter.
But it was a 10-0 run on the finish of the third interval that prolonged into the fourth quarter that lastly introduced the Bucks again in it. Then, after a Paul George 3-pointer simply after the halfway level of the fourth quarter, the Bucks did it once more. They flew forward on a 15-0 tear, which was sparked by a Lillard step-back 3-pointer, to immediately take full management of the sport. The Bucks held the Clippers to simply three discipline objectives the remainder of the best way — two of which got here in rubbish time that have been means too late to make a distinction — to seize the seven-point win.
Lillard completed with 41 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists within the win whereas capturing 12-of-22 from the sector. Bobby Portis got here off the bench and added 28 factors and 16 rebounds, and Patrick Beverley completed with 12 factors and 9 rebounds. They have been the one three Bucks gamers to hit double figures.
James Harden completed with 29 factors and eight assists to guide the Clippers. Paul George added 29 factors and 5 rebounds whereas capturing 10-of-17 from the sector, and Kawhi Leonard completed with 16 factors. The Clippers have been with out veteran guard Russell Westbrook, who broke his hand on Friday and underwent hand surgical procedure on Monday. The team is hopeful he’ll be able to rejoin them in time for the playoffs. The Clippers maintain a 39-21 report, which has them in fourth within the Western Convention standings.
As for the Bucks, they appear to lastly be succeeding beneath Rivers — who changed coach Adrian Griffin simply earlier than the All-Star break. They’ve received six straight and sit in second within the Japanese Convention standings at 41-21 on the yr, although they’re nonetheless eight full video games behind the Boston Celtics. The Bucks will head out on a four-game California street journey beginning subsequent on Wednesday towards the Golden State Warriors.
Although it is unclear how lengthy Antetokounmpo will probably be sidelined, if in any respect, the Bucks appear greater than able to holding their very own with or with out him coming into the ultimate stretch of the season. Whether or not that will probably be sufficient to catch the Celtics, nonetheless, stays to be seen.
