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Bucks win, Damian Lillard debuts
Milwaukee Bucks fans have high expectations after the team won the 2023-24 opener, which was also Damian Lillard's debut.
MILWAUKEE - Damian Lillard scored 39 points in his first game with his new team and the Milwaukee Bucks regrouped after blowing a 19-point lead to open their season by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117 on Thursday night.
The former Portland Trail Blazers star set a record for the most points by a player in his Bucks debut. Terry Cummings scored 34 points in his first game for the Bucks in 1984.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 23 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 10 of 22 from the floor to become the franchise’s career leader in baskets. Antetokounmpo has 5,905 career field goals, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 5,902 baskets with the Bucks from 1969-75.
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Lillard put the Bucks ahead for good 105-104 by sinking a 3-pointer with 3:41 remaining. Antetokounmpo got an offensive rebound on his own miss and found Lillard open behind the arc.
His basket started an 11-0 run that gave Milwaukee a nine-point lead with 2:45 remaining. The 76ers scored seven straight points to get the margin down to two, but Lillard answered by sinking another 3-pointer with 1:13 left.
Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles against Tobias Harris of the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 26. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
After Tobias Harris sank a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game again, Lillard drove to the basket, drew a foul and sank two game-clinching free throws with 11.5 seconds left. Lillard made all 17 of his free-throw attempts.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 and Joel Embiid 24 for the 76ers.
Lillard was playing with a different team for the first time after spending his first 11 seasons in Portland. Lillard requested a trade in the offseason and landed in Milwaukee, which gave up two-time All-Star Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen and plenty of draft capital to land the seven-time All-NBA guard.
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This game marked the head coaching debut of Milwaukee’s Adrian Griffin, who was facing his former boss. Griffin spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach on a Toronto Raptors staff headed by Nick Nurse, who now coaches the 76ers.
The 76ers were playing without seven-time All-NBA guard James Harden. The 2018 MVP, hoping to be traded, arrived late to training camp and said before the season that his fractured relationship with team president Daryl Morey couldn’t be repaired.
Harden arrived at the 76ers’ complex in Camden, New Jersey, on Wednesday but was told not to accompany the team to Milwaukee. Nurse said Wednesday that Harden is back in the "ramp-up phase" after being away from the team for 10 days.
Damian Lillard dribbles the ball against DeAnthony Melton of the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 26. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Fans excited
Bucks fans are expecting big things for this season. With Antetokounmpo and new superstar Lillard on the roster, FOX6 News spoke to some who said they want a championship.
"Just really looking forward to this season seeing everything they have to bring," said Zoemy Soto. "I expect Giannis to do his thing. Now with Dame by his side, I feel like we just can’t lose."
With every beginning there is always optimism. And with a team like this, fans expect greatness.
"I think we can win championships this year and many future years," Giselle Soto said.
The Soto family was first in line to see the newest Bucks star in the paint.
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"Giannis and Lillard are definitely going to be key players to get them to go to the championship," said Xavier Soto.
Some fans experienced the energy of a home opener for the first time. Others, have watched the action courtside for years.
"There’s nothing but goodness about opening night, I’m telling you," said David Gruber. "We’re already a great team. We’re already a championship team, but there’s always a feeling that you’re starting fresh."
A fresh start for a team fans believe will be great, looking forward to watching the season end with the same optimism.
"I expect greatness all season. I’ll see them with a chip," Lukman Hassan said.