Home Basketball Lillard’s 39 points in his Bucks debut help Milwaukee beat the 76ers 118-117

Lillard’s 39 points in his Bucks debut help Milwaukee beat the 76ers 118-117

Basketball — 10/27/2023

Philadelphia 76ers' De'Anthony Melton drives between Milwaukee Bucks' Jae Crowder and Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee (AP)— After losing a 19-point lead, the Milwaukee Bucks upset the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117 on Thursday night with Damian Lillard scoring 39 points in his debut game with the franchise.

The former Portland Trail Blazers standout set a Bucks debut scoring record. Terry Cummings scored 34 points in his 1984 Bucks debut.

Giannis Antetokounmpo became the franchise’s career leader in baskets with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 of 22 shooting. Antetokounmpo has 5,905 career field goals, whereas Abdul-Jabbar scored 5,902 with the Bucks from 1969-75.

Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez fouls Philadelphia 76ers' Paul Reed during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Lillard’s 3-pointer with 3:41 left gave the Bucks the lead 105-104. After a miss, Antetokounmpo found Lillard open behind the arc with an оffensive rebound.

His basket started an 11-0 run that gave Milwaukee a 9-point lead with 2:45 left. The 76ers scored seven straight baskets to cut the lead to two, but Lillard replied with another 3-pointer with 1:13 left.

After Tobias Harris sank a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game again, Lillard drove to the basket, drew a foul and sank two game-clinching free throws with 11.5 seconds left. Lillard Һit all 17 free throws.

Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez fouls Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Tyrese Maxey scored 31, Kelly Oubre Jr. 27 and Joel Embiid 24 for the 76ers.

After 11 seasons in Portland, Lillard played for a new team. Milwaukee traded two-time All-Star Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and draft capital for seven-time All-NBA guard Lillard in the offseason.

Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr. asses between Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee’s Adrian Griffin began his head coaching career against his old boss. Griffin was an assistant coach for five seasons under Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who now leads the 76ers.

The 76ers played without seven-time All-NBA guard James Harden. The 2018 MVP, hoping to be dealt, arrived late to training camp and declared his relationship with team president Daryl Morey was irreparable before the season.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Harden landed at the 76ers’ Camden complex on Wednesday but was ordered not to go to Milwaukee. After 10 days away from the team, Nurse indicated Wednesday that Harden is back in the “ramp-up phase”.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

76ers: Nurse meets his former team in Toronto on Saturday.

Bucks: Sunday home game against Hawks.