----- Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists as the Milwaukee Bucks used a strong second half to down the Portland Trail Blazers 108-102 Sunday afternoon at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard fueled the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half as they overcame a 26-point deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 108-102 Sunday afternoon at Fiserv Forum.
Antetokounmpo finished with 33 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists including a tie-breaking tip-in with 18.5 seconds left helping Milwaukee preserve their biggest comeback in more than a decade.
Lillard finished with 31 points and four assists on 7-of-21 shooting. It was his first regular season game against the Trail Blazers with his new team after spending the first 11-years of his career in Portland.
The Bucks trailed 81-55 early in the third quarter, the largest deficit overcome by a winning team in the NBA this season. It represented the Bucks' largest come-from-behind victory since Nov. 26, 2012, when they came back from 27 points down in a 93-92 victory over Chicago.
Portland (4-12) scored 68 points in the first half on 52.1% shooting including 10-of-17 from three-point range, But they shot just 27.9% in the second half and missed 12 of their last 13 attempts from 3-point range.
“To be a good team, a really really good team, contending team in this league, you've got to have composure," Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “Our composure was good for the most part, but when it really really counted, we came unraveled a little bit.”
A shot-clock violation enabled Milwaukee to get the ball in a tie game with 39.3 seconds left. Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks the advantage on a tip-in off a missed three-pointer from Lillard.
The Blazers had a chance to tie when Antetokounmpo was called for his sixth foul on Malcolm Brogdon's drive with 14.6 seconds left. Bucks Coach Adrian Griffin challenged the call, and the foul was overturned upon a replay review.
The Bucks won the jump-ball and Lillard iced the game at the free throw line.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers will play the second of a back-to-back Monday in Indiana against the Pacers. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Blazers 2nd half offense was atrocious. Bucks closed the game on a 50-19 run from the 8:26 mark in the 3rd quarter.