PORTLAND – Damian Lillard’s emotional return to Portland opened with an ovation and ended in defeat as the Trail Blazers held off the Milwaukee Bucks 119-116 on Jan 31.
The 33-year-old was playing his first game in Portland since the September trade that sent him to Milwaukee, after he spent his first 11 National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons as a Blazer.
Greeted by a massive standing ovation and feted with a video tribute, he felt the love, but the Bucks endured a second straight defeat under new head coach Doc Rivers.
Anfernee Simons, once mentored by Lillard in Portland, led the Trail Blazers with 24 points and made a floater that gave them the lead for good with 17.6 seconds to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points and Lillard added 25, but after Simons’ go-ahead basket, the Bucks could not find a way to score and Jerami Grant sealed it at the free-throw line.
“It was kind of weird, first time ever playing in an actual game against him. But it was fun. Obviously, he plays the same way against anybody, he’s got the same demeanour. But I’m pretty sure it felt a little bit different tonight,” Simons said of Lillard.
For the man himself, it was emotional, to say the least.
“These types of games where there’s a lot of meaning and lot of emotion, these are always fun. These games have a little bit more juice in them,” Lillard said.
The Bucks remain second in the Eastern Conference on 32-16, behind the Boston Celtics (37-11).
Elsewhere, Kevin Durant made a triumphant return to Brooklyn, scoring 33 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 136-120 victory over the Nets. He also received a warm welcome in his first game in Brooklyn since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Phoenix last season.
Fans cheered his introduction and the Nets played a video tribute.
The cheers turn to boos as Nets fans got frustrated but the Suns quietened the crowd with an explosive third quarter, Durant scoring 11 points in the period as Phoenix outscored Brooklyn 42-26 to take control.
“It was cool,” Durant said of being back in Brooklyn, before focusing on his current team.
“Everybody’s been through a lot of things in our locker room, switching teams, injuries all that stuff... We’re bringing all that together... to make us a better team.”
In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to lead the Thunder in a 105-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets, who were without two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic because of lower back trouble.
The Thunder’s third win in four games against the NBA champions this season moved Oklahoma City (33-15) to second in the Western Conference behind Minnesota (34-14), who eased past Dallas 121-87.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 29 points, while Josh Green’s 18 paced the Mavericks, who were without the injured Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Kawhi Leonard led the Los Angeles Clippers with 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals as they bounced back from a Jan 29 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have now won nine of their last 11 games.
In other news, Marc Gasol, a standout defender during his 13 NBA seasons, has officially announced his retirement.
The 39-year-old Spaniard played 10-plus seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and was traded to the Raptors in the 2018-19 season, when he won his only title with Toronto. He closed out his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. AFP, REUTERS
