Doric Sam December 20, 2023
AP Photo/Morry Gash
After an up-and-down start to the season, Damian Lillard appears to have reached a level of comfort that has the Milwaukee Bucks looking like a well-oiled machine.
The star point guard poured in a season-high 40 points to lead the Bucks to a dominant 132-119 win on Tuesday night over the San Antonio Spurs, who were without 2023 No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama (ankle). It was his third straight game with more than 30 points, and Milwaukee’s win streak was extended to five as the team improved to 20-7.
Lillard delighted the home crowd at Fiserv Forum with a shooting barrage from beyond the arc, as he connected on a season-high seven three-pointers on 12 attempts. He became the 51st player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points, so there were no questions about who was getting the game ball.
Lillard’s performance was so impressive that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo only had to score 11 points in the victory, though he finished with a triple-double with 14 rebounds and 16 assists. Bobby Portis added 23 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Khris Middleton chipped in 17 points.
But Lillard was the star of the show on Tuesday night, and fans on social media were blown away by his scorching outing:
Ti Windisch @TiWindisch
Don’t mind me chortling watching Dame do Dame things and thinking about all of the analysis questioning if getting him was worth it for Milwaukee. Hard to say imo!!!!!!!
NBA TV @NBATV
Dame knocks down his 7th triple of the night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BKAnKEAXaV
🦌 @SnellSZN
Oh my god dame is having one of those flame thrower shooting nights that we’ve waited for. PLEASE FEED HIM
DameMuse @DameMuse0
Damian Lillard tonight
— 40 Points (Season high)‼️
— 4 Assists
— 14/22 (64%)
— 7/12 From 3‼️
— 3 Steals‼️
— 26 +/- (Game High)
He’s back pic.twitter.com/nFlXeuQbSh
Brett Usher @UsherNBA
Dame Lillard with his third consecutive 20-plus-point first half 😳
NBA @NBA
20,000 career points for Damian Lillard! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/W0XeKscgd9
Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard has scored the 20,000th point in his career, the 51st player in NBA history to reach the milestone
FanDuel @FanDuel
Giannis looking at the game ball for Dame’s 20,000th point pic.twitter.com/HfButgTWi2
Ballislife.com @Ballislife
Dame is now a member of the 20K PTS, 5K AST, 2K 3PT Club!
Other members: LeBron, Steph, Harden pic.twitter.com/hJy4IllGJm
The Lead @TheLeadSM
Dame over his last 3 games:
– 37.3 PPG
– 6.7 APG
– 57/53/96 splits
– 77% true shooting
– +62 plus-minus
+62 in 112 minutes is insane 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hk86nwAjiR
It’s a scary thought for the rest of the NBA to see the Bucks dominate even when Antetokounmpo has an off-shooting night.
