Despite the absence of star player Giannis Antetokounmpo due to left Achilles tendinitis, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a remarkable 113-106 victory over the LA Clippers on Monday night, extending their winning streak to six games.
Damian Lillard led the charge with an impressive 41-point performance on 12-of-22 shooting, complemented by Bobby Portis, who contributed 28 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. The Bucks overcame a 15-point second-half deficit, showcasing their resilience and team chemistry.
“It just shows who we’re becoming,” remarked Lillard. “Nobody talked about who wasn’t playing before the game… that just shows what’s expected, the standard that we’re starting to have, and who we’re becoming as a team.”
Trailing by 15 points with under five minutes left in the third quarter, the Bucks orchestrated a comeback, outscoring the Clippers by 22 for the remainder of the game.
This marked Milwaukee’s fourth 15-point comeback win this season and the second under the coaching tenure of Doc Rivers.
“We just trusted each other,” Lillard explained. “Defensively, we’ve trusted our communication. We’ve depended on the next guy to do his job, and the same offensively… Because our team is seeing the results that we’re getting from playing that way, even when it’s not going our way at points in the game, we trust it. It’s just coming back in our favor.”
It was only the third time this season that the Bucks played without Antetokounmpo, and the first since January 17. Additionally, Milwaukee was without forward Khris Middleton, who has been sidelined since spraining an ankle on February 6 in Phoenix.
Rivers expressed uncertainty about their availability for the upcoming West Coast road trip but noted that Antetokounmpo has been managing the Achilles injury for the past few games. Despite the challenges, the Bucks showcased their depth and resilience, emphasizing the trust they have developed as a team.
