Dame Time came to Milwaukee on Thursday as Damian Lillard stole the show in his Bucks debut.
He finished with 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 118-117 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
He was only 4-of-12 from three, but included in those makes was an early four-point play and a late three to give Milwaukee a 116-111 lead.
Per StatMuse, Lillard scored more points in his Bucks debut than any player in franchise history.
Lillard spent his first 11 NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers and averaged a career-high 32.3 points per game last season. After initially requesting a trade to the Heat, the seven-time All-Star appears to be acclimating well to his surroundings in Milwaukee.
As ESPN’s Kevin Pelton noted, the team uncharacteristically struggled when two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the court, making Lillard’s contributions even more significant.
Lillard gave Milwaukee exactly what it envisioned he would when it traded Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen and future firsts as part of a three-team deal earlier this month.
Antetokounmpo didn’t have to carry the Bucks against the Sixers. Like everyone else, he could step back and watch Lillard work.
