Damian Lillard delivered a standout performance, scoring 37 points and dishing out 12 assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks (9-9) to a narrow 106-103 victory over the Miami Heat (7-8) in an NBA Cup matchup on Tuesday night.
The Bucks extended their winning streak to five games and climbed back to .500 for the first time since their second game of the season.
Despite holding a 22-point lead in the second half, Milwaukee faced a late surge from Miami, led by Jimmy Butler’s 23 points.
The Heat tied the game at 96-96 in the fourth quarter, but key three-pointers from AJ Green in the final minutes helped the Bucks secure the win. Green’s clutch triples pushed Milwaukee ahead 101-97 and later 104-100.
Lillard shot 8-of-13 from beyond the arc, providing much-needed scoring in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined due to left knee swelling.
Brook Lopez contributed 13 points, including three three-pointers, while Bobby Portis added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Milwaukee’s strong perimeter shooting—20-of-42 from three-point range—proved pivotal, as the team outscored Miami 60-30 from beyond the arc.
For Miami, Tyler Herro scored 18 points, while Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier chipped in with 16 and 17 points, respectively. However, the Heat struggled defensively against Milwaukee’s sharpshooting and allowed critical points in the closing minutes.
The Bucks now lead East Group B in NBA Cup play with a 3-0 record, a half-game ahead of the Detroit Pistons (2-0). The Heat, at 1-2, find their quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy after falling short in another tightly contested matchup.
