Damian Lillard delivered a season-high 43 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 135-127 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The Bucks, playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the fourth consecutive game, relied on Lillard’s offensive explosion to snap a rough stretch.
Lillard shot 14-of-27 from the field, including 8-of-15 from beyond the arc, while also contributing eight assists and seven rebounds. Milwaukee improved to 28-23 with the win, securing just its second victory in the last seven games.
Gary Trent Jr. provided 23 points off the bench, his best scoring performance of the season, and Bobby Portis recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Brook Lopez added 15 points, and Kyle Kuzma, in his first start since joining the Bucks, finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Philadelphia, now 20-32, struggled to keep up after a tight first half that featured 22 lead changes in the first 27 minutes. Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 39 points, extending his streak of scoring at least 25 points to 18 games. Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Guerschon Yabusele added 18 points off the bench.
The Bucks took control in the third quarter, outscoring the 76ers 38-28 behind Lillard’s hot shooting and a barrage of three-pointers.
Playing in their second home game over the last nine contests, the Bucks debuted their revamped roster following the trade deadline. While Kuzma started, the team’s other new acquisitions, Jericho Sims and Kevin Porter Jr., remained on the bench.
The 76ers, dealing with injuries and roster changes, have now lost three straight and five of their last six. Paul George contributed 12 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Justin Edwards struggled, scoring just four points on 1-of-5 shooting.
Milwaukee shot 43.8% from the field and 43.6% from deep, compared to Philadelphia’s 52.8% and 40%, respectively. The Bucks dominated the rebounding battle 53-42, helping them overcome their lower shooting percentage.
