Damian Lillard Thrills NBA Fans as Bucks Beat Joel Embiid, 76ers amid Giannis Injury

Posted by author February 9, 2025 NBA

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Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined for the next week with a “mild calf strain,” which will include missing the All-Star Game next weekend, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

So Damian Lillard picked up the slack on Sunday.

The star guard was fantastic against the Philadelphia 76ers, putting up 43 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in a 135-127 Milwaukee win.

NBA @NBA

What a find from Dame 🔥
Zips it to Trent Jr. who hits the buzzer-beater 3 to close the 1st half!
Bucks lead the Sixers 65-63 at the half. pic.twitter.com/IqnKQOepw3

That spoiled strong performances from Joel Embiid (27 points, 12 rebounds, six assists) and Tyrese Maxey (39 points, five assists), though Paul George managed just 12 points.

Gary Trent Jr. chipped in with 23 points off the bench for the Bucks.

But Lillard was the story after he scorched the Sixers, and fans and pundits alike enjoyed the performance:

Nathan Marzion @nathanmarzion

Dame is COOKING

🦌⌚️💍 @GiannisIn6

I was thinking the same thing as Hubie, a very quiet 40 piece from Dame. Elite game

Lexton @lexton_6

DAME 40 PIECE LFGGG

Wale. @walekroos

Dame dollar you beast. #40bomb

Roddy @nasiimaroddy

Dame 40+ points 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

. @zillashinobi

Dame Time is back

Richard 🐐 @pbp_Rich

Absolutely love to see Dame cook

For the Bucks (28-23), it was a nice start to its week without the Greak Freak, with matchups against the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves remaining before the All-Star break.

For the Sixers (20-32), meanwhile, it was yet another disappointing performance in a season full of them. The optimism that followed the George signing over the summer has been completely extinguished by injuries, a lack of quality depth and the surprising struggles of George himself, who has never quite found his groove with the team.

The lone consolation for Sixers fans is that the real game of interest comes in a few hours, when the Eagles face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Sixers were more of an appetizer on Sunday, and about as satisfying as a veggie platter with no dip.