Bucks’ Damian Lillard drops 40, joins 20,000-point club in win

MILWAUKEE – Damian Lillard didn't bother to hide what his latest move in his career meant to him.

Lillard scored a game-high 40 points to bring his career total to over 20,000, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double and the Milwaukee Bucks beat San Antonio 132-119 on Tuesday night as the Spurs played without Victor Wembanyama in due to pain in the right ankle.

“I don’t want to play it down like it’s nothing,” Lillard said. “I know it's a big deal. It's a big achievement. It's a rare space.”

Lillard increased his career point total to 20,034 and became the 51st person in NBA history – and the eighth active player – to reach 20,000 points. Lillard, playing his 794th career game, became the 17th fastest player to reach that milestone.

“When you look at Dame, obviously he can shoot the ball,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “He can stretch the court. He just puts a lot of pressure on your defense. If you elevate your bigs, he can get around them. He's strong enough and physical enough to finish at the rim. He just has no weaknesses on the field. offensive end.”

Other active players with at least 20,000 points are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan and Chris Paul.

Lillard, James, Curry and Harden are the only players in NBA history to total 20,000 points, 5,000 assists and 2,000 3-pointers.

“I look at what led to this,” Lillard said. “All the things I think about in high school, college and the doubts I faced during my career, before the NBA – what I wasn't supposed to be, what I wasn't supposed to accomplish., and just my mentality through all of these things. Sometimes you don't really see the light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to have that faith in yourself.

Antetokounmpo had a career-high 16 assists, 14 rebounds and a game-high 11 points for his 37th career triple-double and his second this season. His other triple-double came in a 132-121 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on December 2.

Wembanyama's injury prevented him from facing Antetokounmpo for the first time in his professional career. It was only the second game the 7-foot-3 rookie missed.

“I don’t think we expected it to be long term or anything,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the game.

Milwaukee went 5-0 during this six-game home season. The Bucks have won their last 14 games at Fiserv Forum, which is their longest home winning streak since 20 consecutive victories in Milwaukee from April 19, 1990 to January 8, 1991.

Bobby Portis added 23 points and 10 rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 17 points and Brook Lopez had 14 points and six blocks for the Bucks.

Keldon Johnson had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, while Zach Collins added 22 points and Devin Vassell 17.

The Spurs have lost 20 of their last 21 games.

After a Collins basket opened the scoring, the Bucks took the lead for good, going on a 21-1 run that ended midway through the first quarter.