The Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings injected life into a thin slate of games on this Sunday, coinciding with the start of the NFL playoffs. Both teams are playoff contenders in their conferences and had a fantastic matchup that went to OT. Damian Lillard sealed the 143-142 win for the Bucks in OT by hitting a deep three and celebrating. Fans couldn’t believe we saw another instance of Dame Time play out.
DAMIAN LILLARD FOR THE WIN AT THE BUZZER! pic.twitter.com/VKTFal8Dxo
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 15, 2024
Bucks’ teammate Khris Middleton went to social media to give Lillard credit for bringing back ‘Dame Time’.
— Khris Middleton (@Khris22m) January 15, 2024
Fans are happy to see Lillard doing the things that made him so beloved again.
Damian Lillard finally hitting buzzer beaters and the Dame Time celly again pic.twitter.com/oUDrYis539
— jay ➠ (@flvckojamie) January 15, 2024
Fans made more jokes about Dame’s invisible watch.
I AM CERTAIN THAT DAMIAN LILLARD’S INVISIBLE WATCH KEEPS TIME BETTER THAN WHATEVER IT IS THE ASTRONAUTS USE https://t.co/NgpJKV2KAu
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) January 15, 2024
Fans were in shock to see such an incredible Lillard shot occur while he was in Milwaukee Bucks colors.
I just witnessed Damian Lillard hit a near half court buzzer beating stepback game winning 3 in overtime and proceed to tap his wrist.
He did it all in a Bucks jersey.
How is this real.
— 🦌 (@SnellSZN) January 15, 2024
Fans referred to the Green Bay Packers advancing in the NFL Playoffs on the same night as Lillard sealing this win.
Jordan Love and Damian Lillard making sure it’s a good day for Wisconsin sports fans:
— Dalton Sell (@sell_dalton) January 15, 2024
Fans were mocking other fans that tried minimizing the impact of the shot.
This fan base can’t even enjoy a Damian Lillard fall away three for the win in overtime on a Sunday night. https://t.co/4lVYjV59Ph
— 🧊 (@CooolJay_) January 15, 2024
Game-winning heaves are what everyone has come to accept from Dame, and that’s what he provided.
Dame Lillard pulling up for a game winning three pic.twitter.com/NqEgm1UjKV
— Le Charismeur (@bstous) January 15, 2024
The game was a fierce contest where both teams relied on team scoring to get the job done. The Bucks had four 20-point scorers, led by Lillard’s 29 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a 27-point triple-double while Malik Beasley and Bobby Portis Jr, also scored 20+ to celebrate the win.
The Kings also had four scorers with 20 points or more, led by De’Aaron Fox who scored 32 points. Malik Monk came off the bench to stop 28 points while Kevin Huerter had a sudden 26-point 10-rebounds game. Domantas Sabonis notched yet another triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 15 assists.
Damian Lillard Has Brought Back Championship Expectations In Milwaukee
After the Bucks fell to a humiliating first-round exit as the best team in the NBA last year, it’s clear that the front office felt that something needed to change. They broke up their 2021 title-winning core to bring Damian Lillard into the mix to provide the franchise with moments like the one he did tonight. Jrue Holiday’s play is missed, but Lillard has made the Bucks an offensive juggernaut alongside Giannis.
The first-round exit to the Heat had many thinking the Bucks championship window with their title-winning core was over but the franchise didn’t waste time trying to figure out what’s next. Lillard is averaging 25.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on the Bucks, still settling into his role as a primary scorer on a team with championship expectations.
For years, people wanted to see Lillard leave the Portland Trail Blazers and join a contender. He has finally done that and he could legitimately end the season after winning his first NBA championship. He won’t be carried to that point by Giannis, as Dame will have to possibly exceed the productions we’re seeing from him this season when we enter the playoffs.
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