Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks debut, team with Giannis Antetokounmpo, highlights, stats, video\u060c<\/p>\n
Damian Lillard made a triumphant NBA preseason debut for the Milwaukee Bucks, combining well with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a 108-97 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n
Lillard, a seven-time All-Star guard traded from Portland to the Bucks last month, scored 14 points with three steals, three assists and two rebounds in 22 minutes on the court.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old Tokyo Olympic gold medalist made 3 of 10 shots from the floor, 2 of 7 from 3-point range and made all six of his free throws.<\/p>\n
Watch NBA preseason games as well as all NBL season games with ESPN on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start<\/a> streaming instantly ><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n “I felt good. It\u2019s always a little rusty at the beginning but the game was very simple,\u201d Lillard said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was about catching my breath, just getting into the rhythm. They attacked me at first, so that woke me up. It was just good to be back on the field.<\/p>\n Greek superstar center Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 16 points and eight rebounds in just over 15 minutes on the court and meshed well with new teammate Lillard in the first game between two of the NBA’s<\/a> top five scorers. last season, each scoring more than 31. points a game.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been on the court with them quite a bit over the last couple of weeks, so I feel comfortable,\u201d Lillard said of working with his new teammates.<\/p>\n \u201cI think my game complements the guys’ game really well, so everything went smoothly. It wasn’t difficult at all. Now it’s just about being able to play other teams and getting used to each other and knowing how we’re going to operate there.<\/p>\n Antetokounnmpo was pleased with the amount of space he had, especially after Lillard was double-teamed on the first tip.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anyone get double-teamed on the first play of the game. It was a surprise. It’s a pre-season game. Not a playoff game, not a regular season game, not an in-season tournament game\u2026 It\u2019s insane,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Lakers, playing without superstar LeBron James<\/a>, were led by 16 points and seven rebounds from Anthony Davis.<\/p>\n Lillard was happy that he was able to play a comfortable, familiar game despite new teammates and limited minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cI made the same plays I always make,\u201d he said. \u201cI relax the defense. I make the right plays, then I find my places and I become aggressive at certain moments of the match. That’s what I did this evening.<\/p>\n \u201cShorter minutes. First match here. I felt good. We’re just going to continue to build on that.<\/p>\n Big Ben at the bottom of his bag once again! | 00:39<\/p>\n It helped that many of the Bucks’ offensive schemes were the same ones used by Milwaukee assistant coach Terry Stotts when he was head coach at Portland from 2012 to 2021, when Lillard played for the Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of what we do offensively is what I did with him for nine years, so it\u2019s been pretty easy as far as this adjustment,\u201d Lillard said.<\/p>\n Lillard said his goal heading into the Bucks’ 2023-24 season opener Oct. 26 at home against Philadelphia<\/a> is steady improvement.<\/p>\n \u201cJust to keep building,\u201d Lillard said. \u201cI think it’s just one step at a time, enjoy the process, go in and keep building and keep building throughout the season. That’s all we can control.<\/p>\n Lillard and Antetokounmpo are building chemistry that Milwaukee fans hope can produce a second NBA crown in four seasons.<\/p>\n