Damian Lillard delivered a masterclass performance, scoring 37 points and dishing out 12 assists, as the Milwaukee Bucks held on to defeat the Miami Heat 106-103 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night. Despite blowing a 22-point second-half lead, the Bucks maintained their composure down the stretch to secure their fifth consecutive win and improve to 9-9 on the season.
Brook Lopez contributed 13 points, while Bobby Portis added 11 for the Bucks, who now sit atop East Group B in the NBA Cup standings with a 3-0 record, half a game ahead of the Detroit Pistons (2-0).
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 23 points, while Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, and Bam Adebayo chipped in 18, 17, and 16 points, respectively. Miami rallied from a 22-point deficit to tie the game at 96-96 on a Butler layup late in the fourth quarter. Despite their resilience, the Heat could never grab the lead and dropped to 1-2 in Cup play.
A critical factor in the outcome was the Bucks’ long-range shooting. Milwaukee outscored Miami 60-30 from beyond the arc, with AJ Green hitting two pivotal 3-pointers in the closing minutes. Each of Green’s shots came immediately after Miami had trimmed the deficit to one, pushing the Bucks’ lead to 101-97 and later to 104-100.
Lillard’s 37-point, 12-assist performance marked the 30th time in his career he has posted at least 35 points and 10 assists in a game. This feat ties him with Allen Iverson for ninth-most in NBA regular-season history. The all-time leader in this category is Oscar Robertson, with 121 such games.
Milwaukee was without their superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was a late scratch due to swelling in his left knee. In Giannis’ absence, Lillard took command, showcasing his leadership and ability to deliver in clutch moments.
The Heat have struggled to protect home court this season, facing deficits of 22 points or more in two of their seven home games. For context, they faced similar deficits only six times in 41 home games last season.
Lillard’s 37 points were the second-most ever by a Bucks player against Miami in a regular-season game, trailing only Mo Williams’ 38 points in 2007. AJ Green’s back-to-back 3-pointers late in the game secured the Bucks’ lead when it mattered most.
The Bucks will look to keep their momentum going when they host the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Heat will aim to bounce back as they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
Milwaukee’s victory not only bolsters their NBA Cup chances but also signals that they can thrive even without Antetokounmpo, as Lillard continues to prove why he’s one of the league’s premier playmakers.
