Bucks Trail Blazers Recap: Grant Reaches New Season High as Bucks Hit New Season Low in Lillard’s Return to Milwaukee

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MILWAUKEE – Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant scored a season-high 35 points, as the Trail Blazers cruised to a 115-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night.

Bucks forward Bobby Portis led the Bucks in scoring with a season-high 22 points. Bucks Point guard Cole Anthony added 16, Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma had 15, and Bucks center Myles Turner recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bucks have now dropped their last five contests in a row, as they continue to struggle without the likes of forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is currently missing time with a left adductor strain.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) participating in pre-game drills. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

However, in a pre-game interview, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers said that Antetokounmpo, and point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (right knee meniscus surgery) are “close” to a return. Antetokounmpo and Porter Jr. could be seen participating in pregame shootaround drills as well, backing up Rivers’ claims from his pregame press conference.

The game saw the return of two former Bucks’ point guards to Fiserv Forum: Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. However, neither of them suited up for Portland, with Holiday nursing a right calf strain and Lillard recovering from his torn left Achillies tendon that he suffered during the Bucks’ playoff run last season. It was the first time Lillard has returned to Milwaukee since he was waived by the Bucks in the offseason to make enough cap room to sign Turner.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) & Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (right) having a pre-game chat. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

Antetokounmpo could be seen chatting with Lillard before the game. Then during the game, a crowd of 16,526 gave a thunderous ovation to Lillard when a video tribute to him played on the scoreboard during the first timeout of the game.

Mike Stuempfig (left) & his son Nathan (right). Photo: Stephen Wielebski

“I think that was nice that they did that for him,” Bucks fan Mike Stuempfig said. “We should be appreciative of what he did for us.”

Stuempfig, who traveled from Oconomowoc with his son Nathan to see the game, also expressed fond memories for Holiday.

“I love Jrue,” Stuempfig said. “I wish we still had him. Dame too honestly.”

Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Williams III (#35, black jersey) throwing down an alley-oop dunk in the fourth quarter. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

The Trail Blazers led throughout most of the contest, taking the lead for good with 7:35 left in the second quarter. Portland put the game out of reach by scoring 18 unanswered points between 2:30 left in the third quarter and 10:14 left in the fourth quarter, building their lead at the time to 102-74. The Trail Blazers led by as much as 33 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks fans in attendance were irritated with the officiating all night, as the Trail Blazers took nearly twice as many free throws as the Bucks did (33-18), including a 21-4 free throw attempt advantage at halftime. However, Rivers put the blame for the discrepancy squarely on his team’s performance on both ends of the court.

Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers at his postgame press conference. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

“It’s not the refs, it’s us.” Rivers said in his postgame press conference. “We’ve got to figure out a way to play defense better – without fouling – and we’ve out to figure out a way to get to the foul line ourselves.”

Rivers also discussed why he believes the offense has stalled as of late.

“We’ve got to take the burden off of them and try and make it easier for them.” Rivers said. “I think right now, we’re easier to guard. We’re trying to run too many pick-and-rolls [and] we don’t get off the ball.”

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (#9, white jersey) hits a reverse layup in the fourth quarter. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

“I was taught as a young rookie that nobody’s going to feel sorry for you.” Portis said in a postgame interview. “You just got to keep doing the things you do on a daily basis. Keep the same routine. Keep the same swag. Keep the same energy. Be you every day and then things will start to turn around.”

Trail Blazers Center Donovan Clingan recorded his fifth double-double this season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Trail Blazers Forward Deni Avdija continued his breakout season by scoring 22 points. Avdija, who hails from Tel Aviv Israel, attracted a small group of fans from Israel to come all the way to Milwaukee to catch a glimpse of him.

Yehlei Peled (right), Rotem Eshbal (2nd from left) and friends waiting to catch a glimpse of Deni Avdija on the Portland Trail Blazers’ team bus after the game. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

“It was my first NBA game, so it was very exciting,” Yehlei Peled said. “Deni Avdija is the king.”

“He is a legend,” Rotem Eshbal said.

The Trail Blazers return to Portland to host the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Cup game Wednesday night.

The Bucks will travel to Miami to take on the Miami Heat in an NBA Cup game on Wednesday night.