Blazers compound complete games, winning against Lillard and Bucks

Portland Trail Blazers defeated in their only national television game in the season the red -hot Milwaukee Bucks At Moda Center on Tuesday night behind big matches from Deni Avdija, Deandre Ayton and Anfeee Simons. Blazers have had a few good wins this year, but the victory tonight could have been their most complete seasonal match.

Secondly, Damian Lillard’s return to Portland was spoiled by a Blazers victory. Lillard ended with 20 points, but Blazers seems to have responded to Dame Time. Main coach Chauncey Billups deployed an eight-man rotation and treated this as an endgame. Avdija was aggressive, and Blazers, when a team went 12-28 (43%) from the three-point arch, a big reason why they blasted bucks down the stretch.

Blazers did a lot of things right in this game, so let’s take a dive in five analysis options.

MVP

The game has been over for about an hour and Deni Avdija is still drawing violations at Milwaukee Bucks. Avdija is my MVP for the game, and it was mainly due to the fact that he served a free kick when he attacked the edge with power. Bucks played briefly in the front position so the goal early should have been to get them in bad trouble. Most of the time it is easier said than done, but Avdija understood the award and took it to his defender every time he had the ball at the top of the key. Taurean Prince and Kris Middleton were victims, and it put Bucks in a tough place as the game went on.

Avdija poured 30 points and led all the blazers into the scoring. His ability to move his body as he drove to the hoop and ends at the edge is rare. It was on full view tonight. If you are successful against Bucks, you should be able to apply pressure to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Avdija achieved it. The long ball also fell. To go 3-7 from Deep opened up the track.

Engaged Ayton

Deandre Ayton is usually the difference-maker for blazers when it comes to winner and loss. When he is engaged, Blazers is another team. Most of the season he has been sleeping through games, but tonight he saw blood in the water with Giannis across the floor from him. Their “rivalry” goes back to 2021 NBA finals Da Bucks matched against Ayton and Phoenix Suns. In these finals, Giannis destroyed Ayton. Since then you can tell that Ayton wants a refund.

Ayton started tonight and went 3-3 from the field and rebounding at a high speed. His defense in the paint also slowed down the other bucks. Giannis scored a game-high 39 points, but most of them were out of put-backs or drifting to the field in the transition as Ayton did not protect him.

The nail in the coffin game happened with 4:55 back in the game. Toumani Camara drove to the edge and threw a can on Giannis. What you might not have noticed was Ayton who fought Giannis down to free the course to Camara. Those were the little things that Ayton hasn’t done for most of the year. Ayton would finish with 21 points, 14 rebounds and a team high +/- of +15.

Quick pause points

Blazers won this game in transition. Giannis and Bucks thrive when they can enter the open court. Antetokounmpo is unstoppable with a steam head, and Bucks has shooters all over the field. Blazers ran back on the defense and did a good job of stopping the ball. At the offensive end, Portland pushed the ball and looked for their own open shooting games in the corners.

Portland also ended strongly at the edge. With 9:10 back in the fourth quarter, Donovan Clingan blocked Lopez. That led to Shaedon Sharpe coming out into the transition. He got a non-chief to move to the hoop. Although it ended up with a miss, Avdija was there to clean up. Blazers would outscore Bucks 15-13 in quick break points. Keeping Milwaukee for only 13 points was most impressive.

Dribble penetration

Portland shot 43% from a distance against Bucks. This was possible due to dribbles penetration. Blazers have good shooting games, but they have not been able to get a clean look at the hanger. Led by Avdija, Blazers were able to enter the paint and kick out to open shooters. RIP City knows all too well the defensive responsibility associated with lady. Portland attacked him most of the night.

Sharpe gave the most benefit of the dribbling. His 11 points in the first quarter were due to all drives. These came in fashion of the dunk, step back jumper, corner three, layup and free throw. Sharpe came from the bench and scored 17. He was important in the victory.

Cleaning the glass

Portland surpassed Bucks 52-36 with 17 offensive rebounds. As it is said, rebounding is key and tonight it couldn’t have been more true. Blazers pulled Giannis away from the edge and it allowed the team to bring in the 17 offensive rebounds, which gave Blazer’s precious second chance points. Portland has been in the top five of the NBA in offensive rebounding, and it has been mainly because of the fact that they miss a lot of shots … but tonight it was intentional. Once you get past Lopez and Giannis, Bucks are not big or physical. Portland is one of the tallest teams in the NBA, so it was necessary to win the rebounding stroke if RIP City was to win.

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BoxScore

Blazers go to Orlando Magic on Thursday night with a 19:00, Pacific Start.