Damian Lillard scored 37 points and dished 12 assists as the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks defeated the host Miami Heat, 106-103, in the NBA yesterday (Philippine time).
Milwaukee has won five straight games and seven of eight.
Lillard made 10 of 17 shots, including eight of 13 from three-point range.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who leads the NBA in scoring (32.4 points per game), missed the game due to swelling in his left knee.
In addition, three-time Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton has yet to play this season due to surgery on both of his ankles.
The Bucks, who are 3-0 in East Group B in the NBA, never trailed in the game.
Miami, 1-2 in East Group B, was led by Jimmy Butler’s 23 points. Tyler Herro added 18.
Heat guard Terry Rozier returned after missing two games due to an injury to his right foot. He finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep.
Milwaukee, thanks to 17 points from Lillard, led 31-20 after the first quarter. Lillard made his first four three-point attempts, and the Bucks shot 55 percent from the floor for the quarter.
Lillard scored eight points in the second quarter as the Bucks stretched their halftime lead to 65-51. Miami shot 56.2 percent in the second quarter, but Milwaukee was even better (59.1 percent).
Miami finally caught Milwaukee at 96-96 on a Butler layup with 4:02 left in the game.
In the final minute, the Bucks, leading 104-103, seemed to get a three-pointer by AJ Green.
However, the shot was delivered just after the 24-second clock expired. That turnover occurred with five seconds left.
Miami then tried to send the game to overtime, but Rozier missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer, ending the game. (Field Level Media / Reuters)
Damian Lillard scored 37 points and dished 12 assists as the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks defeated the host Miami Heat, 106-103, in the NBA yesterday (Philippine time).
Milwaukee has won five straight games and seven of eight.
Lillard made 10 of 17 shots, including eight of 13 from three-point range.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who leads the NBA in scoring (32.4 points per game), missed the game due to swelling in his left knee.
In addition, three-time Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton has yet to play this season due to surgery on both of his ankles.
The Bucks, who are 3-0 in East Group B in the NBA, never trailed in the game.
Miami, 1-2 in East Group B, was led by Jimmy Butler’s 23 points. Tyler Herro added 18.
Heat guard Terry Rozier returned after missing two games due to an injury to his right foot. He finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep.
Milwaukee, thanks to 17 points from Lillard, led 31-20 after the first quarter. Lillard made his first four three-point attempts, and the Bucks shot 55 percent from the floor for the quarter.
Lillard scored eight points in the second quarter as the Bucks stretched their halftime lead to 65-51. Miami shot 56.2 percent in the second quarter, but Milwaukee was even better (59.1 percent).
Miami finally caught Milwaukee at 96-96 on a Butler layup with 4:02 left in the game.
In the final minute, the Bucks, leading 104-103, seemed to get a three-pointer by AJ Green.
However, the shot was delivered just after the 24-second clock expired. That turnover occurred with five seconds left.
Miami then tried to send the game to overtime, but Rozier missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer, ending the game. (Field Level Media / Reuters)