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NBA Fans React to Damian Lillard's Dominant Showing in Bucks vs 76ers

Damian Lillard led the Bucks to an opening-night win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Justin Grasso|
Oct 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Oct 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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Philadelphia 76ersMilwaukee Bucks

Competing in an intense environment on the road for the season opener, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard wasn’t feeling too much pressure.

Being around the NBA since 2012, the former sixth-overall pick was on a mission to remind everybody that he’s one of the most dangerous guards in the league. A shorthandedPhiladelphia 76ers team had to be the first to find out this week.

Although the Bucks were one guy short of their All-Star trio, missing Khris Middleton, the 76ers were down two-thirds of their All-Star committee. Tyrese Maxey was the lone wolf playing from the pack, as Joel Embiid and Paul George were issued the night off.

Through the first half of action, the Sixers started losing control later in the second quarter. They were outscored 36-24, allowing Lillard to head into halftime with 15 points in 18 minutes.

When Lillard came out for the third quarter, he tacked on another 15 points with near-perfect shooting from the field. The All-Star guard produced 12 of his points from deep, making all four of his threes in the third quarter alone.

Lillard would finish the game with 30 points in 38 minutes. He also dished out six assists and came down with nine rebounds, nearly notching the double-double.

Dame’s Dominance: The Reaction

@heavenlybuckets: Damian Lillard is really back to hitting these ridiculous threes…

@RussFcb: Damian Lillard is back

@MalikThr33sly: Damian Lillard is the best PG in the East. Yall can argue with a wall.

@TonyAtkinsTV: Damian Lillard. Sir.

@sydn3yfink: damian lillard looks like portland dame this season and the league should be terrified

Lillard received plenty of help from his star big man, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak checked in for 31 minutes on Wednesday night to make eight of his 11 shots, scoring 25 points.

The Bucks defeated the Sixers 124-109. Despite taking 18 fewer shots, the efficiency from Milwaukee’s side helped them put away a struggling and shorthanded Sixers team.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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