Damian Lillard scored 39 points to lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a thrilling 118-117 victory in their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. This was a crucial display from Lillard, who is keen to show his worth after arriving at the team following a blockbuster trade last month.
In order to prepare for life in Milwaukee, Lillard explained that he has been doing research that has shown how he is being relied upon to lift the team up late in games. “I’ve had enough conversations with guys, especially with Giannis [Antetokounmpo], that I came in knowing what was expected of me,” he explained after the win. “They’re encouraging me to be the person to take control, make decisions and decide what’s going to happen in those moments.”
Lillard proved vital to his team’s success, particularly with the team down 104-102 with four minutes left on the clock. He scored 14 points during those final four minutes.
