NBA Information: Giannis Antetokounmpo highlights Damian Lillard’s function as Bucks’ nearer

The Milwaukee Bucks seem like discovering their rhythm within the NBA. Their newest victory got here in dramatic style, as Damian Lillard sealed the sport with a clutch driving layup, lifting the staff to a 5-9 document. After the sport, Giannis Antetokounmpo made it clear simply how necessary Lillard is in closing moments.

The sport-winning play started with a defensive masterpiece by Antetokounmpo, who blocked Alperen Sengun’s shot with 19.7 seconds remaining and the Rockets main 100-99. With out hesitation, Antetokounmpo pushed the ball up the court docket and located Lillard, who drove to the rim for the decisive basket. Giannis was adamant about trusting Lillard in such conditions.

“It’s simple for me to say I’ve the ball, let me go all the best way,” Antetokounmpo defined postgame. “However on the finish of the day, I’m a frontrunner that wishes to win and I need to do the fitting factor. If Dame is on the ground, I believe, personally—as a lot as lots of people can say ‘you gotta take it’—no. Dame is a good nearer, so that you gotta discover Dame and also you gotta put the ball in his hand to decide.”

Reflecting on his late-game defensive cease, Antetokounmpo added, “I don’t understand how I bought up. I didn’t suppose I may get it, however I used to be capable of get my fingertips to the ball. I’m glad that VanVleet didn’t slip this time, and I used to be capable of assist my staff get a cease.”

Lillard on thriving underneath stress

Damian Lillard, no stranger to late-game heroics, shared his ideas on the stress of being a more in-depth and the way his expertise helps in these moments.

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“It comes right down to I’ve skilled these moments so much,” Lillard mentioned after the sport. “Not simply the final play of the sport, however being aggressive and attacking. The shot’s not falling, however the recreation continues to be shut. I do know what’s anticipated of me on this staff—not essentially to all the time make the massive shot—however to be in assault mode. Particularly in a recreation like this.”

Brook Lopez on Lillard’s closing skill

Brook Lopez, who led the Bucks in scoring in the course of the win, additionally praised Lillard’s composure in crunch-time conditions. “What number of different guys would you need relatively than Dame in that scenario, dealing with the ball and making choices?” Lopez mentioned.

“We’re blessed to be in that scenario,” he continued. “We’ve bought lots of people that contributed all night time to get us there, and to have a man like that to have the ability to take us house, we’re in an amazing place.”

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, specializing in soccer, the NBA, and tennis. He started his skilled profession in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, the place he made his preliminary strides as a author. Gianni has lined main sports activities occasions such because the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like Roland Garros. His skill to report on real-time occasions and write underneath stress has established him as a priceless member of a top-tier staff of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, the place he covers a variety of sports activities, together with European soccer, MLS, and the NBA. Gianni earned his diploma in Communication from Deportea in Buenos Aires, Argentina.