Bucks Zone

Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo deliver, as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons

Dame and Giannis combined for 76 points in Milwaukee’s third-straight win over Detroit this season.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

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Damian Lillard recorded his highest-scoring game this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence, and the Milwaukee Bucks got back on the winning track by beating the Detroit Pistons,141-135, on Saturday.

Dame and Greek Freak dominate

Combining for 76 points, Lillard and Antetokounmpo both tallied double-double performances to help the Bucks secure their third-straight win over the Pistons this season. Milwaukee improved to 29-13 in the season as it bounced back from a 95-135 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Dame finished with 45 points and 11 assists, becoming the first player in Bucks history with at least 40 points, 10 assists, and five three-pointers in a game. Lillard’s previous season-high in points was 40, which he made during Milwaukee’s 132-119 win over the San Antonio Spurs on December 19th.

After failing to play due to a bruised right shoulder in Milwaukee’s one-sided loss to Cleveland, Giannis made up for lost time and collected 31 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and a block. Brook Lopez added 19 points and 10 rebounds, Khris Middleton pitched in 17, and Malik Beasley contributed 11 for Milwaukee, which stayed in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Pistons miseries continue

Detroit dropped to 4-38, the worst record in the league. The Pistons didn’t play like the league’s cellar-dwellers in this one, as they even took a 121-117 lead halfway through the final quarter.

Milwaukee took the lead, 126-121, behind a 9-0 run, five scored by Antetokounmpo. Detroit moved within 126-129, but Lillard hit two free throws and then converted a three-point play that shoved the Bucks to a safe 134-126 lead with only 2:11 left.

Two Detroit reserves were superb in the loss, with Alec Burks erupting for a team-high 33 points on 7-for-14 shooting from three-point range. Rookie Ausur Thompson added a career-high 22 points, while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 19 points.

Jaden Ivey contributed 18 points, while new recruit Mike Muscala was the fifth Piston in double figures with 13 points.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.