MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard acknowledged this season opener felt a little different from the others as he adjusted to switching teams for the first time.
Lillard scored 39 points and the Milwaukee Bucks regrouped after blowing a 19-point lead to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117 on Thursday night.
Lillard had the highest point total for a player making his Bucks debut, surpassing the 34 that Terry Cummings scored in 1984.
The 76ers scored seven straight points to get the margin down to two, but Lillard answered by sinking another 3-pointer with 1:13 left.
Harden arrived at the 76ers’ complex in Camden, New Jersey, on Wednesday but was told not to accompany the team to Milwaukee.
Persons:
— Damian Lillard, Lillard, Terry Cummings, ” Lillard, I've, It's, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kareem Abdul, Jabbar, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr, Joel Embiid, Grayson Allen, “, Antetokounmpo, You’ve, you've, Tobias Harris, Adrian Griffin, Griffin, Nick Nurse, ” Nurse, James Harden, Daryl Morey couldn’t, Harden, Nurse, ___
Organizations:
MILWAUKEE, NBA, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Bucks, 76ers, Milwaukee, ”, Toronto Raptors, NEXT, Toronto, Atlanta Hawks
Locations:
Portland, Milwaukee, ” Bucks, Camden , New Jersey