Damian Lillard scored 30 points in his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks, leading his team to a 124-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. The season opener saw Lillard take charge, especially in the third quarter where he dropped 15 points, helping the Bucks pull away from a closely contested first half.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists for Milwaukee, while Bobby Portis contributed 16 points off the bench, and Taurean Prince knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points. Milwaukee’s balanced attack overwhelmed the 76ers, who were without star center Joel Embiid and new addition Paul George, both sidelined with knee injuries.
Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 25 points, but his 10-of-31 shooting reflected the team’s struggles without their key players. Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 21 points, while Andre Drummond had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. However, the Bucks’ third-quarter surge, which saw them outscore Philadelphia 42-27, sealed the game.
Suns Outlast Clippers in Overtime Thriller
Kevin Durant scored 25 points, including a clutch jumper to force overtime, as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 116-113 in a thrilling contest at the Clippers’ new $2 billion arena. Durant was backed by 24 points from Bradley Beal and 15 from Devin Booker, who fouled out late in regulation.
James Harden led the Clippers with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists but missed a crucial free throw in overtime that would have tied the game. Ivica Zubac added 21 points for the Clippers, but Phoenix capitalized on Harden’s late miss to secure the win.
Pelicans Take Down Bulls Behind Ingram’s 33 Points
Brandon Ingram scored 33 points to guide the New Orleans Pelicans to a 123-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls. CJ McCollum added 23 points for the Pelicans, who played without Zion Williamson due to illness. The Pelicans controlled the game despite strong performances from Zach LaVine (27 points) and Nikola Vucevic (21 points, 11 rebounds) for Chicago.
Magic Defeat Heat in Miami
Paolo Banchero posted 33 points and 11 rebounds as the Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat 116-97 in their season opener. Miami’s star player Jimmy Butler struggled, scoring just three points on 1-for-8 shooting. The Heat, renaming their home court in honor of team president Pat Riley, saw a tough night with Bam Adebayo held to nine points.
Cavaliers Cruise Past Raptors
Evan Mobley scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Toronto Raptors 136-106. Donovan Mitchell chipped in 21 points as Cleveland took control in the second quarter and never looked back.
Trae Young Leads Hawks to Victory Over Nets
Trae Young posted 30 points and 12 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu added a career-high 28 points as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 120-116. Cam Thomas led all scorers with 36 points for Brooklyn, but a late Hawks surge sealed the game.
Other Results
– Pacers 115, Pistons 109: Myles Turner led Indiana with 20 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.
– Hornets 110, Rockets 105: LaMelo Ball’s 34 points powered Charlotte to a comeback win over Houston.
– Grizzlies 126, Jazz 124: Memphis outlasted Utah in a close battle, with Santi Aldama scoring 27 points.
– Warriors 139, Trail Blazers 104: Buddy Hield shined in his Warriors debut, scoring 22 points off the bench.
