MILWAUKEE — The one motive Sunday’s matinee between the Milwaukee Bucks and the lowly Portland Path Blazers was circled on anybody’s calendar was due to the Damian Lillard angle. As a substitute, his first sport in opposition to his former group might be remembered for the Bucks’ historic comeback of their 108-102 win.
Milwaukee’s 26-point comeback is the most important within the league this season, and the most important second-half comeback in franchise historical past.
“We simply generally make it robust on ourselves,” Giannis Antetokounmpo stated. “We shouldn’t be down 26 after which attempt to come and win the sport. That takes a toll in your physique. However on the finish of the day I am joyful that we have been capable of win. I am happy with the blokes that saved their head up.
“What I do know is that we have been capable of do one thing like this, so now you gotta preserve your self accountable. To not be down 26, to make the opposite group name the primary timeout, to come back out within the first 5 minutes and assert your self. I do know as a group we are able to do this, and I maintain myself and my teammates, teaching workers, all people, to excessive requirements. Like, hey man, subsequent time when the sport begins, we must always begin instantly.”
Early on it was all Blazers, as they bought into the paint at will and feasted on the Bucks’ turnovers. Add in some robust 3-point capturing and so they had a double-digit lead on the break, which they pushed out to 26 early within the third quarter. With the Bucks and the vast majority of Fiserv Discussion board half asleep, it appeared just like the Blazers would cruise to their greatest win of the season.
After which, they merely stopped scoring. From their high-point lead of 81-55 with 9:09 remaining within the third quarter onward, they scored simply 21 factors on 7-of-36 from the sector, and turned the ball over seven occasions.
“From the third quarter after the timeout, we made them really feel uncomfortable,” Antetokounmpo defined. “Made them go one-on-one, as a result of while you swap then you definately gotta play one-on-one. We have been guarding, guys have been transferring their toes, guys have been being bodily.”
The Bucks weren’t significantly good on the offensive finish themselves, however they clawed their approach again into the sport by attending to the free throw line — Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard mixed for all 32 of the Bucks’ makes an attempt — and hit some large pictures down the stretch.
None was greater than Antetokounmpo’s tip-in with 19 seconds left that put the Bucks forward for good. The 2-time MVP then got here up with an enormous block on the opposite finish to seal the win.
Antetokounmpo completed with 33 rebounds, 16 assists and 6 rebounds. Within the course of, he handed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for essentially the most video games with 30 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in franchise historical past, with 106.
“He is one of many biggest gamers to play this sport, and he confirmed it tonight,” Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin stated. “What can I say? He is an unimaginable chief, simply has a terrific will to win and keen to do no matter it takes.”
