Damian Lillard did not disappoint in his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night.
The perennial All-Star guard, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, exploded for 39 points in the Bucks’ 118-117 season-opening win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lillard’s 39 points are the most all-time for a player in his first game with Milwaukee. The 33-year-old playmaker continued his reputation as one of the best closers in the NBA, icing the game with a step-back three-pointer with just over a minute to play.
DAMIAN LILLARD WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE!
39 POINTS IS THE MOST FOR A DEBUT IN FRANCHISE HISTORY 😱
pic.twitter.com/DABZlOWvz1— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) October 27, 2023
Overall, Lillard scored 14 of Milwaukee’s final 18 points, including their last 11 on that aforementioned three-pointer, a layup and six free throws.
Bucks’ final 18 points:
— Giannis bucket
— Dame three (Giannis assist)
— Giannis bucket
— Dame free-throw
— Dame free-throw
— Dame free-throw
— Dame and 1
— Dame three
— Dame free-throw
— Dame free-throwScary. pic.twitter.com/NenQyvfnSR
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 27, 2023
The Bucks traded for Lillard expecting him to be the perfect guard to pair with superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Through one game, their formula worked perfectly, as Lillard led the way in scoring and down the stretch, while Antetokounmpo poured in 23 points and 13 rebounds of his own.
With one win under their belts against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, the Bucks will face another playoff hopeful, the Atlanta Hawks, on Sunday.