Trail Blazers defeat Bucks and Damian Lillard in his return to Portland

Portland Trail Blazers certainly misses Damian Lillard when it comes to winning in general, but not in evenings when playing Milwaukee Bucks.

Blazers defeated Lillard and Bucks 125-112 Tuesday night at Moda Center to finish a two-game celebration of Bucks and move to 3-1 towards Lillard since he was traded to Milwaukee before the start of the 2023-24 season.

The loss is not a big thing for Bucks, which is in fourth place in the eastern conference. But for a young blazers team, defeating a team of Milwaukee’s caliber importance.

Portland has won several matches this season against potential title providers such as Bucks. This victory validates Blazers’ latest four-game-winning strip broken by Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8).

Bucks took a 36-31 lead into the second quarter, built a 12-point lead.

“I thought it took us a while to strike us in the game,” Blazers said -coach Chauncey Billups. “They had a really big first quarter with lady and giannis. They became pleasant. “

Then Blazers went on a race and took the lead when Anfeee Simons hit a Fall-Away Three to make the scoring 57-56 with 2:23 to go in half.

Later, Simons made a falling jumper in the field to give Blazers a 64-61 lead at the break.

Deni Avdija scored 14 points in the third quarter to lead Blazers to a 97-89 lead on the way into the fourth.

Blazers fired in the last quarter and built a 19-point lead that Bucks could never recover.

Avdija led Blazers with 30 points and Simons added 25. Deandre Ayton scored 21 points with 14 rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe came from the bench to score 17 points.

“I think we came to play today,” said Avdija. “We were aggressive. In the beginning, I think we started a little slowly. But we just shared the ball today. “

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Bucks with 39 points and 12 rebounds. He made 17 of his 24 field target attempts.

Antetokounmpo scored 16 in the first quarter, had 21 at the break and added 14 in the third quarter. In the fourth, Blazers held him to four points.

“I thought our defense as a whole in the second half was really elite,” Billups said. “Obviously, this guy, he gets 39 points and 12 rebounds. He’s just so hard. But I thought our defense was really good against him as we could get him outside seven meters from the basket. “

Lillard shot 7 of 17 from the field and 2 of 6 in addition to the arch in 20 points with six assists.

Blazers shot 12 of 28 from three-point range (42.9%) compared to 11 of 35 (31.4%) for bucks.

Another important statistical victory for Blazers came with their 52-36 rebounding Edge.

“This rarely happens to us when we win the glass by 16,” Billups said. “It’s a really, really big thing.”

What that means

Blazers (18-29), who won 105-102 at Milwaukee on January 4, have now won five of their last six matches. Bucks (26-19) have lost two out of their last three, but have nine wins in their last 12 excursions.

Lillard vs. Blazers

Lillard continued to shoot during his abilities against blazers. He entered the night 21 of 59 (35.5%) from the field and 9 of 33 (27.3%) from three-point reach through three games against Portland dating back to last season.

He is now 28 of 76 (36.8%) from the field and 11 of 39 (28.2%) from three-point range in four matches against blazers.

Lillard left impressed with Blazers’ energy and versatility.

“I think they play with a lot of energy and defensive versatility, and they got a lot of different guys handling the ball and putting pressure on the edge,” Lillard said. “They just play an aggressive style.”

Lineup

Blazers started the game as healthy as they have been all season, with only Matisse Thybulle (ankle) out on Tuesday night.

But in the third quarter, Forward Jerami Grant left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. He scored eight points in under 16 minutes.

Billups started Simons, Avdija, Toumani Camara, Grant and Ayton.

Next up

Blazers hosts Orlando Magic (24-24) at. 19 Thursday.

– Aaron Fentrress | [email protected] | @Aaronjfentrress (Twitter), @Aaronjfentrress (Instagram), @Aaronfentrress (Facebook)