WASHINGTON – Damian Lillard raised his game in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, scoring 31 points and distributing 16 assists in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 140-129 National Basketball Association (NBA) triumph over the Phoenix Suns on March 17.
Bobby Portis added 31 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as the hosts improved to 44-24 and tightened their grip on second place in the Eastern Conference.
Lillard, the first player in club history with at least 30 points and 15 assists in the same game, praised Portis and other teammates for delivering with Greek superstar Antetokounmpo sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
“It was huge. One of our biggest strengths is our depth. Bobby Portis is a starter on any other team but, for our team, he knows what his job is,” Lillard said.
“Down a guy like Giannis, you know everybody is going to have to step their game up. We’ve been in this situation a couple of times this year and every time he has come through and delivered.
“I knew I wouldn’t have to come out and overdo it. Feed him. Feed everybody else, pick my spots and be aggressive.”
Lillard had 14 points and 12 assists as Milwaukee took an 82-60 half-time edge, the Bucks matching an NBA record held by the Suns and Utah Jazz by sinking 18 first-half three-pointers.
Portis had 25 first-half points on 10-of-13 shooting, including five-of-five from beyond the arc, as the Bucks went 24-of-41 from three-point range overall.
“It’s fun after all the work you put in. Just having good teammates and coaches that believe in you,” Portis said.
“We go through this marathon 82-game season together and try to build great camaraderie and chemistry.”
Lillard’s efforts included a buzzer-beater from the mid-court logo to give the Bucks a 109-94 lead after three quarters.
“Keeping their defence honest,” said Lillard. “They probably thought with Giannis out, I was going to just try and force it. I just took advantage of what their defence was doing. They overhelped. I was making the simple plays. Guys made shots.
“It makes their defence push and choose. I was able to take advantage of it. When we play that way, we play our best – and I think I play my best.”
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, who missed 16 games with a sprained left ankle, added 22 points on his return.
Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points while Grayson Allen added 25, Devin Booker had 23 and Kevin Durant scored 11 points.
Phoenix fell to a virtual three-way tie with Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings for the sixth and final Western Conference play-off spot.
The Mavs joined the group after Kyrie Irving sank a left-handed 20-foot floater at the final buzzer to snap the Denver Nuggets’ five-game winning streak in the 107-105 home victory.
Luka Doncic scored a game-high 37, while Irving finished with 24 points as Dallas improved to 39-29.
Jamal Murray led Denver with 23 points, Michael Porter Jr had 20 while two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who slipped to 47-21 and second place in the West.
In Detroit, Bam Adebayo’s 30-foot three-pointer at the final buzzer gave Miami Heat a 104-101 victory over the Pistons.
He finished with 20 points, while Duncan Robinson netted a game-high 30 points. Evan Fournier, with 18 points, was the Pistons’ top scorer. AFP
