Lillard, Bucks Overcome Travel Issues to Trounce Heat 125-96
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard had 29 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks overcame travel issues to beat the Miami Heat 125-96 on Thursday for their fifth straight victory.
The start was pushed back an hour due to the Bucks’ troubles getting out of New Orleans, which had a historic snowstorm on Tuesday. The Bucks’ scheduled Wednesday game with the Pelicans was postponed, and their plane arrived in Milwaukee less than three hours before the start Thursday.
The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Gary Trent Jr. scored a season-high 21 points and shot 7 of 10 on 3-point attempts. Kel’el Ware had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro had 21 points and nine assists.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler began serving a two-game suspension for what the Heat described as a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team."
Takeaways
Heat: Miami needed to play its best to withstand Butler’s absence. The Heat instead couldn’t slow down Milwaukee and failed to capitalize on the Bucks’ late arrival to Milwaukee.
Bucks: The Bucks trailed 18-3 midway through the first quarter. But they still exceeded 120 points for a fifth straight game.
Key Moment
Lillard scored six points in the final 1.1 seconds of the first half for a 71-55 lead. He was fouled by Duncan Robinson on a 3-pointer and hit three free throws. After Ware threw away the inbounds pass, Lillard made a corner 3.
Key Stat
Lillard had his big performance despite going scoreless for the first 18 1/2 minutes.
Up Next
Both teams play Saturday. The Heat will be at Brooklyn, while the Bucks begin a four-game trip at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Conclusion
The Bucks’ ability to overcome their travel issues and adapt to the challenging circumstances proved to be the decisive factor in their victory over the Heat. Lillard’s outstanding performance and Antetokounmpo’s strong double-double were key to the Bucks’ success.
FAQs
Q: How did the Bucks’ travel issues affect their game against the Heat?
A: The Bucks’ travel issues pushed the start of the game back an hour, and their plane arrived in Milwaukee just under three hours before the scheduled tip-off.
Q: Who led the Bucks to victory against the Heat?
A: Damian Lillard had 29 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Q: What was the final score in the game between the Bucks and the Heat?
A: The Bucks won 125-96.
