In Damian Lillard’s first game back against his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 108-102 on Sunday afternoon when Giannis Antetokounmpo tipped in Bobby Portis’ failed basket with 18.1 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

With 24 seconds remaining and the score tied at 102 apiece, Lillard, who had scored 31 points overall, missed a 3-point attempt.

When the ball reached Portis, he was unable to make a follow shot, but Antetokounmpo was there to tip in the game-winning basket that broke the tie.

With 14.1 seconds remaining, an All-Star block of Malcolm Brogdon’s possible game-winning 6-footer was set up by a replay reversal on an Antetokounmpo foul. Lillard finished his impressive performance with four game-winning free throws to record his sixth 30-point performance of the year.

After eight games, Milwaukee had won seven of them, while Portland had dropped nine of its previous ten.

With 33 and 16 rebounds, respectively, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks, who outrebounded the visitors 52–40. With 14 points, Malik Beasley, Portis, and Brook Lopez each contributed 12.

The game marked the first since Portland parted ways with Lillard after an 11-year partnership, sending him to the Bucks in the offseason in a three-team trade that also included a 2029 first-round selection and the Trail Blazers’ Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, and Toumani Camara.

Holiday was then traded by Portland to the Boston Celtics in exchange for 2024 and 2029 first-round picks, Malcolm Brogdon, and Robert Williams.

On January 31, the clubs will reunite in Portland as a sort of homecoming for Lillard.

The Trail Blazers recorded double-doubles from Brogdon (18 points, game-high 12 assists) and Ayton (14 points, team-high 13 rebounds). They led by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter and held a 95-82 lead with 8 minutes remaining until the Bucks finally caught up to them.

With 2:13 remaining, Milwaukee led 102-99 thanks to a 20-4 run led by Portis, who scored eight straight baskets, two of which were 3-pointers, before Jerami Grant’s 3-pointer sealed the game’s final tie and set up the suspenseful conclusion.

Kicking off a five-game journey, Grant led the Trail Blazers with a team-high 22 points. Scoot Henderson scored 13 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 17.