Trail Blazers advance to exciting victory over Damian Lillard and Bucks | Top Vip News

The Portland Trail Blazers welcomed Damian Lillard and milwaukee dollars to Centro Moda in grand style on Wednesday night, standing toe-to-toe with the championship contenders and refusing to back down an inch. Milwaukee has a reputation for having a sketchy defense. Tonight they did nothing to refute it.

Guards Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons carved them up like a venison roast. Portland’s inside game also remained strong. They scored 56 in the paint, taking advantage of another Milwaukee weakness.

Damian Lillard scored 25 in his first return home in an enemy uniform, but Henderson responded with 15 and Simons 24. Portland’s frontcourt players were also strong. Deandre Ayton was 20 and Jerami Grant was 18.

As everyone expected, the main story of the game bore the initials “DL”. In a twist of fate, even though the “D” stood for defense… Milwaukee didn’t play much. And the L? Portland put one up on the Bucks, 119-116.

The Blazers shot 53.3% from the field, 42.9% from the arc, and countered Milwaukee’s 19-9 free throw advantage by shooting 100% from the charity stripe.

What a night. What a victory. If you’re in the mood for that, consider donating a pair of tickets so kids in need can see these Blazers play later this spring. Check that out just below and then enjoy reading how the win unfolded.

First quarter

If the Blazers were going to be intimidated by the Bucks, they had a fun way to show it. Jabari Walker hit a 3-pointer to start the game (in contrast to the two logo attempts Lillard nearly missed), helping Portland get off to a 3-5 start from the field and a 7-2 lead with 2:00 left. remaining.

After that, the Bucks stopped being stupid and turned to Giannis inside to make unstoppable shots. That made them come back immediately. He also opened up the three-point arc for Milwaukee. Khris Middleton and Malik Beasley hit from deep and suddenly the spigot was on for the Bucks. At the 6:31 mark, they had come all the way back to take a 17-14 lead, prompting head coach Chauncey Billups to break the momentum with a timeout.

Anfernee Simons kept the Blazers going, hitting quick 3-pointers like Damian Lillard once did on this court. Deandre Ayton also contributed from the lane. Portland’s offense looked good. Or, maybe, Milwaukee’s defense didn’t.

Brook López scored triples to put the Bucks back on top, but Scoot Henderson and Duop Reath scored on layups/dunks, without any fear. The atmosphere at the Moda Center seemed almost joyful as both teams threw punches with abandon.

When Reath hit a 3-pointer with 1:18 left, Portland got within 1, 33-32. Milwaukee made a mini-run to increase the lead to six again, but Henderson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, completing an 11-point period, in contrast to Lillard’s 8. Milwaukee led 38-37 after one.

Second bedroom

Portland’s second unit hit three shots early in the second quarter, keeping the pressure on their high-profile visitors. They tied the score and then engaged in a dogfight with Milwaukee for the next few minutes. Portland got a couple leads. but Giannis proved to be a trump card in everything they achieved, scoring or reaching the line with impunity.

The Blazers scored their 50th point just after the 8:00 mark of the second period. They have played games without scoring much in the entire first half. A persistent interior attack gave pleasing results. Milwaukee responded with more three-pointers. The scoring party was underway.

To their credit, Milwaukee began to get several defenders on the line, which made Portland’s layup attempts difficult. Henderson and Simons reached the cup, but could not convert it cleanly. A triple by Matisse Thybulle loosened things up again. Then Jerami Grant converted at center. Portland led 58-57 at the timeout with 3:52 left in the half.

If someone was going to play true defense, at least for an extended period, they would have to wait until the second half. Teams missed shots, but it was almost by accident, not necessarily because of pressure. When the halftime buzzer sounded, Portland led 67-65 at the half.

Third quarter

The “Uh Oh” meter started to skyrocket at the start of the third quarter when Damian Lillard hit a killer triple to start the scoring. Giannis’ two buckets pushed the score further into the red. But Jerami Grant scored a layup and then fouled in the lane to help his team weather the storm. When Grant dunked off a Lillard turnover on the next play, Milwaukee was looking for an umbrella. Portland led 77-74 at the timeout with 8:21 left.

The teams finally started to miss some of their shots in the middle moments of the third. Milwaukee still scored inside but couldn’t hit a three-pointer to save their souls. Portland’s offense was even more limited. It was the restricted area or nothing.

Once again, Matisse Thybulle broke the spell, hitting a 3-pointer with 3:40 left, putting Portland up 5 again. Scoot Henderson then drove, hit Duop Reath in the right corner, and despite turning the ball over, Reath made a three-pointer. Maybe it was Portland night after all?

Khris Middleton tried to stop that narrative as the quarter closed, hitting a pair of “Nuh Uh” 3-pointers. But Anfernee Simons responded with one of his own. The scoreboard went from one side to the other. Again. Simons also hit a heavily guarded pull-up at the line with 2.9 seconds left in the period, giving Portland a 96-91 lead after three.

Fourth trimester

The beginning of the quarter was a semi-disaster for Milwaukee. Turnovers abounded. They didn’t take a single shot in the first two minutes of the quarter. In that same span, Malcolm Brogdon converted a transition layup and a half-court three-pointer, giving the Blazers a 101-91 lead. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers called an emergency timeout to regroup and recover.

That regrouping included free throws on a Giannis attempt, followed by a Portland turnover and a Lillard 3-pointer. 5 points in 30 seconds for the Bucks forced Billups to call a timeout for Portland. The Blazers led 101-95 with 8:57 left.

The game stabilized a bit after that. Lillard scored again, but Deandre Ayton hit a pair of direct shots, allowing Portland to breathe a little.

Then, in an “It can only happen to Portland” moment, a loose ball off a rebound appeared to hit Brook Lopez’s midsection and go out of bounds, but the referees didn’t see what happened and ruled it a jump ball. between López and contender Ayton. Coach Billups challenged the call, but on replay the referees determined that the ball actually bounced. Anfernee Simons Thigh, meaning Portland’s challenge led to a less favorable outcome than the original missed call. However, technically speaking, it was a successful challenge, so the Blazers retained their ability to discuss another decision later.

The Bucks didn’t score on that play (thank goodness), but Giannis converted a conventional three-point play into the next one, leaving the score 107-102, Portland as the fourth quarter went into the middle.

After that, both teams focused on scoring from downtown, with Ayton schooling Lopez in the post and Lopez hitting a three-pointer in retaliation. The smorgasbord of goals continued, leaving no stone unturned. Whatever the end of the game, it seemed certain to burn the place down.

Milwaukee struck first in the final four minutes. Malik Beasley converted a layup, followed by a jumper from Jerami Grant and then a short jumper from Middleton. Portland still led with 3:09 left, but only by 4, 113-109.

Coach Billups used his second and final challenge by contesting a foul by Toumani Camara on Lillard. Once again he was successful. But the rollover resulted in a jump ball. The Bucks took the lead and López scored another three, closing the gap to one, 113-112.

Grant hit a tough jumper over Lillard on the next possession. Then, when the Blazers used two men to deny Giannis the ball, Lopez missed a 3-pointer. Portland failed to convert several shots on the next possession, then Lillard made a dunk, making the score 115-114, Portland with 1:13 remaining.

The Blazers fumbled on the next possession. Milwaukee saved its best defense of the game for last. That gave the Bucks the ball with less than a minute left, still down one.

Lillard missed the next shot, but Milwaukee forced another turnover and Giannis converted a Dame alley-oop, ultimately putting the Bucks ahead 116-115. But Anfernee Simons stepped up again, hitting a floater and regaining the lead to a single point. Milwaukee ball, 17.6 seconds left.

Giannis set a huge screen for Lillard down the field, freeing up Dame for a moment. But Ayton chased him to the other side’s goal, then Malcolm Brogdon closed out the three-point opportunity, throwing a spanner into the Dame Time clock. Lillard passed to Lopez on the opposite side, but Brook missed the three. Brogdon recovered. The Bucks fouled (without shooting) and Portland called a timeout, up 117-116, with 5.6 seconds left.

Jerami Grant received the inbounds pass after the Bucks took Simons out of the opportunity. After the foul, Grant made two free throws. He connected on both, leaving Portland up 119-116, with 4.6 seconds left and no timeouts left for Milwaukee.

Giannis entered the field, then Grant fouled him with 2.8 seconds left. He missed the first, intentionally missed the second on possession and Brogdon rebounded for the game.

Until next time

Stay tuned for an expanded analysis coming soon!

Scorecard

The Blazers head to the mile-high city to face the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, kicking off at 6:00 pm Pacific.

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