Bucks extend win streak despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo،
MILWAUKEE – Despite missing star Giannis Antetokounmpo due to left Achilles tendonitis, the Milwaukee Bucks rallied to a 113-106 victory over the LA Clippers on Monday night, extending their winning streak to six matches.
Damian Lillard scored 41 points on 12-of-22 shooting, while Bobby Portis added 28 points and 16 rebounds off the bench as the Bucks overcame a 15-point second-half deficit.
“It just shows who we are becoming,” Lillard said. “No one talked about who wasn't playing before the game… it just shows what's expected, the level we're starting to get to and who we're becoming as a team.”
Down by 15 points with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Bucks rallied to outscore the Clippers by 22 for the rest of the game. It was Milwaukee's fourth 15-point win this season and second since Doc Rivers took over as coach.
“We just trusted each other,” Lillard said. “Defensively, we trusted our communication. We depended on the next guy to do his job, and the same offensively. … Because our team sees the results we get playing that way, even when it doesn't doesn't go our way at certain points in the match, we trust him. It just comes back in our favor.
It was only the third time the Bucks played without Antetokounmpo this season, and the first since January 17. Milwaukee was also without forward Khris Middleton, who has been sidelined since spraining his ankle Feb. 6 at Phoenix.
Rivers wasn't sure either would be ready to play when the Bucks begin a three-city, four-game West Coast road trip Wednesday at Golden State.
During his pregame availability, Rivers said Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 30.8 points on a career-best 61.9 percent shooting, was dealing with an Achilles injury over the past few matches.
Antetokounmpo took the court for his usual pregame shooting routine hours before Monday's game, but stopped several times to stretch his legs. Eventually, he broke off his routine and returned to the locker room.
“It’s been on and off the last two or three games,” Rivers said. “This morning he looked really good…we'll figure it out from there.”
Middleton has been out for nearly a month, but Rivers said his ankle is improving. The Bucks hope he can return at some point during their next road trip.
“He’s just not ready,” Rivers said before the game. “It's close…but again, if it's not 100 percent for us, we're just not willing to push it right now. There's no need.”
