It’s difficult to remember a preseason Milwaukee Bucks game that was as anticipated as their most recent matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. Naturally, this is entirely attributable to the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard made their preseason debuts during the Bucks’ game against the Lakers, playing together for the first time as colleagues on an NBA roster (they had previously played together on All-Star teams).
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Khris Middleton’s absence prevented the Bucks from playing at full strength, but the presence of Giannis and Lillard on the court showed the public how dominant this squad is capable of being. Fans had a lot to be excited about thanks to Milwaukee’s new dynamic pair, which included thrilling pick-and-roll action and high-flying dunks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard Debut for the Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis played just 15 minutes, but was his usual dominant self during that time on the court. He scored 16 points on 7/10 shooting (1/1 from three and 1/1 from the free throw line) while hauling down eight rebounds and handing out on assist. He also added two blocks.
Lillard took a few minutes to get going, but ended up with 14 points on 3/10 shooting (2/7 from three and 6/6 from the free throw line), three rebounds, and two assists. He also added three steals.
Lillard played 22 minutes, but was pulled from the game midway through the third quarter.
Milwaukee Bucks Fans React to Seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the Court
While is just a small sample, fans have been waiting for a long time to see Giannis take the court with another superstar. From the moment the game started, fans expressed their excitement on social media:
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As fans could see during the game, the key to Milwaukee’s success is going to be the ability of their role players to hit wide open three point shots. Giannis and Dame’s pick-and-roll is incredibly difficult to defend. In the event that teams stop both of them on the play, there will be wide open shooters all over the court.