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Dame, Giannis impress NBA fans as Bucks win against 76ers with Paul George and Embiid out | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Dame, Giannis impress NBA fans as Bucks win against 76ers with Paul George and Embiid out | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 14: Damian Lillard #0 and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks go to the bench during the first half of a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum on October 14, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

So far, so good for a Milwaukee Bucks team that will be in the spotlight all season after two first-round exits.

Milwaukee started its 2024-25 season with a 124-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Wednesday's Eastern Conference showdown at Wells Fargo Center. The result was largely due to the visitors having their two biggest stars while the 76ers did not.

Damian Lillard finished the game with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists while shooting 6 of 12 from long range, while Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 25 points, 14 boards and seven assists on 8 of 11 shooting from long range. Both performances were important with Khris Middleton out for the Bucks.

However, Philadelphia was missing even more with Joel Embiid and Paul George out.

Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points but shot just 10 of 31 from the field as the 76ers lacked the firepower to keep up with a combination of Antetokounmpo and Lillard that drew numerous reactions on social media:

Milwaukee Bucks @dollar

DAMIAN LILLARD!

This was a high-profile potential playoff preview between two of the presumptive challengers for the Boston Celtics' crown, but it also wasn't representative of what this matchup could look like down the line, with Embiid, George and Middleton all sidelined.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo still provided star power, with the former attacking the basket off the dribble and creating space outside the arc while the latter set the tone with quick inside baskets. But none of them were as aggressive as Maxey, who made 19 field goal attempts in the first half alone.

Unfortunately for the home team, this aggressive approach wasn't the most efficient. The Bucks took a 58-47 halftime lead as Maxey struggled with his shooting both inside and outside the three-point line.

In the third quarter, Lillard took matters into his own hands and caught fire from distance.

He scored 15 points in the quarter, taking full advantage of the gap created by Antetokounmpo's appeal. He wasn't the only one, as offseason signing Taurean Prince found his shot from deep and the Bucks continued to pull away.

The game was never really in doubt in the fourth quarter after Lillard's attack, and Brook Lopez's interior defense en route to six blocks ensured the 76ers couldn't make up for the deficit too much.

Milwaukee will now look to build some momentum when it hosts the Chicago Bulls in its home opener on Friday.

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