After being down by as much as 26 points in the game, the Milwaukee Bucks needed a gargantuan effort in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s showdown against the Portland Trail Blazers in order to secure an unlikely comeback win.
That’s exactly what they did, outscoring their opponents 33-14 in a wild fourth quarter. It was a massive win for the Bucks, which also marked the biggest comeback victory in the NBA this season.
Damian Lillard Heaps Praise on Bobby Portis’ Heroics for Milwaukee Bucks
Damian Lillard turned in another massive effort on Sunday, against his former team, no less. Dame went off for 31 points with five rebounds and five assists as he helped lead a huge comeback against a struggling Portland side.
He wasn’t the only hero of the game, though. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with a 33-point, 16-rebound double-double as the former MVP proved that he is still one of the most dominant players in the league today.
Bobby Portis played a key role in the come-from-behind victory as well, coming up big for the Bucks off the bench yet again. The veteran big man finished with 12 points on 5-of-12 from the floor, two triples, eight rebounds, an assist, two steals, and three blocks — a performance that prompted some high praise from Lillard after the win:
“That’s what he does,” Lillard said. “He comes in, he impacts the game. He brings energy. He brings a level of toughness. And I thought he did that tonight. Getting us extra possessions, he hit a couple of big shots, he’s talking in the huddle. And you need that. That’s what makes us a complete team when you got a guy coming off the bench bringing that type of energy, that type of confidence. He changed the game tonight.”
#Bucks Damian Lillard on facing his former team: "It was a weird feeling. … Once we started playing it obviously wasn't friendly." #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Dw4yjYmlOq
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) November 26, 2023
Dame hit the nail on the head here. Portis isn’t exactly a star, but he’s the type of glue guy that makes the Bucks who they are with his impact play on the court. In fact, if he keeps on playing like this, Portis could emerge as one of the candidates for this season’s Sixth Man of the Year title.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.