Bucks’ Rise Continues, Climbing to .500 After Giannis-Less Win Over Heat

The Bucks showed their resilience on Tuesday night, gutting out a 106-103 road win over the Heat despite missing superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The reigning MVP candidate was sidelined with swelling in his left knee, a late scratch that left coach Doc Rivers scrambling to tweak the game plan.

“Giannis doesn’t miss many games,” Rivers said. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it was the right thing to do.”

And it sure seemed that way. Damian Lillard delivered in vintage fashion, reminding everyone why the Bucks went all in to pair him with Antetokounmpo.

Lillard poured in a game-high 37 points and dished out 12 assists, willing Milwaukee to its fifth straight win and lifting the team to 9-9 on the season — a remarkable climb from their 2-8 start.

The Bucks kept their composure despite the last-minute setback. Antetokounmpo participated in shootaround and pregame warmups before discomfort in his knee forced the team to play it safe.

Rivers and his staff adjusted, relying heavily on Lillard and a balanced effort from the supporting cast.

“It’s always going to be done by committee,” Lillard said. “But I know guys are going to look to me to step up.”

And step up he did. Lillard looked every bit like the clutch performer Milwaukee envisioned, making critical plays down the stretch while leading a poised Bucks squad that is quickly erasing memories of their shaky start.

This season, Antetokounmpo has been otherworldly, averaging a career-best 32.4 points on 60.8% shooting, along with 11.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists.

“We’ve stayed together, kept looking ourselves in the mirror,” Lillard said of the team’s early struggles. “Now, we’re winning at home, we’re winning on the road, and we’re doing it in a sustainable way. That’s the direction we want to be heading.”

The Bucks have a few days to rest before hosting their next game Saturday night, giving Antetokounmpo time to recover.

With Lillard leading the charge and the team trending upward, Milwaukee is sending a clear message: They’re just getting started.

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