By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence due to a hamstring injury didn’t hinder the Milwaukee Bucks, who delivered a high-scoring victory against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum.
Despite the Greek Freak being sidelined with left hamstring tendinopathy, his teammates drained 24 three-pointers on 58,5% to secure a 140-129 win at home.
The Bucks couldn’t miss from beyond the arc in the first half, tying the NBA record with 18 made threes and establishing an 82-60 lead. Despite the Suns‘ attempts to stage a comeback, Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis, and their teammates maintained control to improve their record to 44-24, retaining second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Lillard shined with 31 points and 16 assists, sinking four three-pointers and becoming the first Bucks player in franchise history to achieve such numbers in a single game. Portis contributed 31 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, shooting a perfect 5/5 from beyond the arc and becoming the 12th bench player in NBA history with multiple 30/10 performances.
On the Suns’ side, Jusuf Nurkic recorded eight points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Bradley Beal scored 28 points, Grayson Allen added 25, and Devin Booker contributed 23 points. Kevin Durant managed just 11 points in 41 minutes of play.