Damian Lillard scores 34 points as the Bucks beat Pistons 120-118; Giannis ejected in 3rd period
MILWAUKEE (AP) Damian Lillard scored 34 points and Bobby Portis added 18 as Milwaukee rallied to beat the Detroit Pistons 120-118 on Wednesday night in a game in which Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected midway through the third quarter.
“It’s another huge night as far as finding a way to win,” Bucks coach Adrian Griffin said. “I thought it was a gusty victory. A lot of guys stepped up.”
Antetokounmpo was ejected with nine minutes left after picking up his second technical foul for apparently taunting a defender after scoring on a dunk.
Antetokounmpo had 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting and a team-leading nine rebounds in 22 minutes when he was ejected.
“It’s an emotional game. He made a phenomenal play,” Griffin said. “It was exciting, emotional and I thought he moved on fairly quickly. So, I was surprised with the second technical, but that’s up to the league to decide.”
Cade Cunningham scored 33 points and Marcus Sasser 26 for the Pistons, who were missing six players due to illness and injury.
Detroit, which led by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, held a 115-112 lead after two free throws by Cunningham with 1:39 remaining.
Lillard scored on a drive and added a jumper from the lane to put the Bucks up 116-115.
Brook Lopez hit a 3-pointer to increase Milwaukee’s lead to 119-115 before Cunningham netted a 3 to cut the Pistons’ deficit to 119-118. The Bucks missed on their next possession, but the Pistons turned the ball over with nine seconds left.
“That was the shot of the night,” Lillard said of Lopez’s 3-pointer. “Just having a guy who can protect the paint the way, knowing that you’re funneling guys to him. But also knowing that he’s that type of threat from three. I had all the confidence in the world when he shot it and it was big-time shot.”
Jae Crowder hit the second of two free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining to make it 120-118.
The Bucks led 73-60 when Antetokounmpo was ejected. Detroit rallied for a 95-90 lead after three quarters.
Sasser converted a three-point play that put the Pistons up 109-99 with just over seven minutes remaining.
“The third quarter was the kind of basketball that we’ve been talking about playing,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “Now, our guys have to turn the page on this. It’s an NBA skill to lose a game like this and have the ability to bounce back and have that kind of effort in our next outing.”
Portis scored 13 points to fuel a 16-2 run that put the Bucks up 42-27 with 8:17 left in the first half.
The Bucks got 26 points from their bench in the first half on the way to a 62-52 lead at the break.
Milwaukee was without Khris Middleton, held out of the first game of a back-to-back for right knee injury management.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
Bucks: At Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jalen Duren vs. Brook Lopez (Cade Cunningham gains possession) | ||
| 11:38 |  | Brook Lopez blocks Cade Cunningham's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 11:33 | | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | ||
| 11:32 | | +2 | Malik Beasley makes two point running finger roll layup | 0-2 |
| 11:22 | | Killian Hayes misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:18 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 11:14 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point running finger roll layup | ||
| 11:12 | | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | ||
| 11:04 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point cutting dunk (Cade Cunningham assists) | 2-2 |
| 10:47 | | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Ausar Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | Brook Lopez blocks Jalen Duren's two point jump shot | ||
| 10:30 | | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | +2 | Ausar Thompson makes two point reverse dunk (Jalen Duren assists) | 4-2 |
| 10:14 | | Damian Lillard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:11 | | Cade Cunningham defensive rebound | ||
| 10:08 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Cade Cunningham's two point running layup | ||
| 10:08 | | Jae Crowder defensive rebound | ||
| 9:48 | | +3 | Brook Lopez makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 4-5 |
| 9:36 | | Jalen Duren misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:32 | | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:25 | | Brook Lopez misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:21 | | Killian Hayes defensive rebound | ||
| 9:15 | | Killian Hayes misses two point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:12 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 9:08 | | Ausar Thompson shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | ||
| 9:08 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-6 |
| 9:08 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-7 |
| 8:55 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point alley-oop dunk (Cade Cunningham assists) | 6-7 |
| 8:41 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point hook shot | ||
| 8:37 | | Cade Cunningham defensive rebound | ||
| 8:31 | | Isaiah Stewart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:28 | | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | ||
| 8:21 | | Damian Lillard misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:19 | | Ausar Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:10 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point cutting layup (Ausar Thompson assists) | 8-7 |
| 8:10 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Jalen Duren draws the foul) | ||
| 8:10 | | +1 | Jalen Duren makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 9-7 |
| 8:01 | | Killian Hayes personal foul (Malik Beasley draws the foul) | ||
| 7:54 | | +2 | Jae Crowder makes two point driving floating jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 9-9 |
| 7:37 | | Cade Cunningham misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:34 | | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | ||
| 7:32 | | +2 | Isaiah Stewart makes two point floating jump shot (Killian Hayes assists) | 11-9 |
| 7:16 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving hook shot | 11-11 |
| 6:56 | | Cade Cunningham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:53 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | Isaiah Stewart shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | Bucks 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:50 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-12 |
| 6:50 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 6:45 | | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point cutting dunk (Killian Hayes assists) | 13-12 |
| 6:02 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:58 | | Killian Hayes defensive rebound | ||
| 5:55 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Killian Hayes's two point running layup | ||
| 5:55 | | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point running layup | ||
| 5:47 | | Bucks offensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo turnover (traveling) | ||
| 5:27 | | Brook Lopez personal foul (Ausar Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 5:22 | | Jalen Duren misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:22 | | Bucks defensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | Jae Crowder misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:03 | | Ausar Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:57 | | Stanley Umude misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:56 | | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | ||
| 4:55 | | Marcus Sasser misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:51 | | Bucks defensive rebound | ||
| 4:45 | | Damian Lillard misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:45 | | Pistons defensive rebound | ||
| 4:31 | | Marcus Sasser misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:24 | | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | ||
| 4:22 | | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point driving layup | 13-14 |
| 4:07 | | Stanley Umude turnover (bad pass) (Damian Lillard steals) | ||
| 4:04 | | Cade Cunningham shooting foul (MarJon Beauchamp draws the foul) | ||
| 4:04 | | +1 | MarJon Beauchamp makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-15 |
| 4:04 | | +1 | MarJon Beauchamp makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-16 |
| 3:50 | | +2 | Cade Cunningham makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jared Rhoden assists) | 15-16 |
| 3:34 | | +2 | Pat Connaughton makes two point driving finger roll layup | 15-18 |
| 3:10 | | +2 | Jared Rhoden makes two point jump shot (Isaiah Stewart assists) | 17-18 |
| 2:55 | | Pat Connaughton turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 2:55 | | Pistons 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:40 | | Killian Hayes misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:37 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 2:20 | | +3 | Bobby Portis makes three point jump shot (Cameron Payne assists) | 17-21 |
| 2:04 | | Marcus Sasser turnover (bad pass) (Cameron Payne steals) | ||
| 1:56 | | MarJon Beauchamp misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 1:52 | | Killian Hayes defensive rebound | ||
| 1:41 | | +2 | Marvin Bagley III makes two point jump shot (Jared Rhoden assists) | 19-21 |
| 1:26 | | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:22 | | Isaiah Stewart defensive rebound | ||
| 1:14 | | MarJon Beauchamp personal foul (Jared Rhoden draws the foul) | ||
| 1:05 | | +2 | Jared Rhoden makes two point jump shot (Marvin Bagley III assists) | 21-21 |
| 0:52 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:52 | | Killian Hayes defensive rebound | ||
| 0:47 | | Jared Rhoden misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 0:43 | | MarJon Beauchamp defensive rebound | ||
| 0:34 | | Marvin Bagley III shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 0:34 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 0:34 | | Bucks offensive rebound | ||
| 0:34 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-22 |
| 0:18 | | MarJon Beauchamp personal foul (Killian Hayes draws the foul) | ||
| 0:18 | | +1 | Killian Hayes makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-22 |
| 0:18 | | +1 | Killian Hayes makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-22 |
| 0:06 | | +2 | MarJon Beauchamp makes two point cutting layup (Cameron Payne assists) | 23-24 |
| 0:00 | | Killian Hayes misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Bucks defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:49 | | Marcus Sasser shooting foul (Cameron Payne draws the foul) | ||
| 11:49 | | +1 | Cameron Payne makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-25 |
| 11:49 | | +1 | Cameron Payne makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-26 |
| 11:34 | | +2 | Marvin Bagley III makes two point driving finger roll layup (Cade Cunningham assists) | 25-26 |
| 11:16 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 25-28 |
| 11:16 | | Marvin Bagley III shooting foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | ||
| 11:16 | | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-29 |
| 10:54 | | Cade Cunningham misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:51 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 10:47 | | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Bobby Portis offensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | Bobby Portis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:39 | | Bobby Portis offensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point floating jump shot | 25-31 |
| 10:25 | | Killian Hayes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:21 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving finger roll layup (Cameron Payne assists) | 25-33 |
| 9:54 | | +2 | Killian Hayes makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 27-33 |
| 9:39 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point driving hook shot | 27-35 |
| 9:26 | | Cade Cunningham misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:26 | | Bucks defensive rebound | ||
| 9:26 | | Marvin Bagley III personal foul (Loose ball) (Malik Beasley draws the foul) | ||
| 9:16 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point jump shot | 27-37 |
| 9:16 | | Isaiah Stewart personal foul (Loose ball) (Jae Crowder draws the foul) | ||
| 9:16 | | Jae Crowder technical foul (Double) | ||
| 9:16 | | Isaiah Stewart technical foul (Double) | ||
| 9:16 | | +1 | Jae Crowder makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-38 |
| 8:59 | | Stanley Umude turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:46 | | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point jump shot | 27-40 |
| 8:46 | | Pistons 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:27 | | Cade Cunningham misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:22 | | Cameron Payne defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | Jalen Duren shooting foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul) | ||
| 8:17 | | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-41 |
| 8:17 | | +1 | Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-42 |
| 8:05 | | +2 | Marcus Sasser makes two point jump shot (Killian Hayes assists) | 29-42 |
| 7:51 | | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:47 | | Ausar Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:40 | | Cameron Payne personal foul (Cade Cunningham draws the foul) | ||
| 7:35 | | +2 | Marcus Sasser makes two point pullup jump shot (Jalen Duren assists) | 31-42 |
| 7:27 | | Brook Lopez offensive foul (Ausar Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:27 | | Brook Lopez turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:26 | | Jalen Duren turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 7:19 | | Jalen Duren shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | ||
| 7:19 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-43 |
| 7:19 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-44 |
| 7:02 | | Jalen Duren misses two point hook shot | ||
| 7:00 | | Ausar Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 7:00 | | Ausar Thompson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 6:58 | | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | ||
| 6:51 | | Damian Lillard misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:47 |