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Bucks Notebook: Damian Lillard’s Debut, Free Throws and more

By Brian Sampson

Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder (99) celebrates after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder (99) celebrates after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t disappoint. They were sporadically electric during their season-opening victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and did just enough to squeeze out a 118-117 victory.

Damian Lillard carried the offense to the tune of 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 9-for-20 shooting, including 17-for-17 from the free throw line (more on this later). That was just enough to make up for a less than stellar offensive performance from Giannis Antetokoumpo (23 points on 10-of-22 shooting and just 3-of-9 from the free throw line). Brook Lopez (13 points) and Bobby Portis (10 points) were the only other two Bucks in double figures.

Philadelphia’s scoring was much more concentrated. Tyrese Maxey (31), Kelly Oubre (27), Joel Embiid (24), and Tobias Harris (20) combined for 102 of their 117 points. Still, it was enough to get the job done for the Bucks.

Here are quarter-by-quarter takeaways about the Milwaukee Bucks’ season-opener which included Damian Lillard’s debut, plenty of free throws and more.

First Quarter:

  • Starting matchups included PJ Tucker on Giannis, De’Anthony Melton on Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez on Joel Embiid, and Malik Beasley on Tyrese Maxey.
  • Giannis featured as a roll-man early. He looked uncomfortable in this position at various times throughout the night. It resulted in several travels and turnovers (he finished with seven total turnovers). He’ll get better as the season progresses and he gets more used to catching the short roll with a ton of space around him.
  • Giannis isn’t used to having an elite shooter open around the top of the key. There were a couple of times he put his head down to get to the hoop while Lillard was open at the three-point line.
  • First sub of the game was Jae Crowder for Giannis. Adrian Griffin tried to stagger the two for most of the game (with one exception at the end of the third quarter when it was a full bench unit).
  • Lillard ran with a bench unit for a large portion of the first quarter.
  • Nine players got PT in the first quarter
  • Embiid played the whole first, Bucks were up 7
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