Damian Lillard has broken a Milwaukee Bucks record for the player with the most debut points after scoring 39 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
Terry Cummings scored 34 points in his first game for the Bucks in 1984.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 10-for-22 from the floor to become the franchise’s career leader in baskets.
Antetokounmpo has 5,905 career field goals, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made 5,902 baskets with the Bucks from 1969-75.
Lillard scored a 3-pointer that gave Milwaukee the lead and then they scored 11 points straight. Philadelphia replied with seven straight points. Gillard scored another 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining.
Tobias Harris sank a 3-pointer for Philadelphia. Lillard drove to the basket, drew a foul, and sank two game-clinching free throws with 11.5 seconds left.
Lillard signed with the Bucks after 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Tyrese Maxey scored 31, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 and Joel Embiid 24 for the 76ers.
Milwaukee’s head coach Adrian Griffin was starting his debut for the Bucks against his former boss.
Griffin spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach on a Toronto Raptors staff headed by Nick Nurse, who now coaches the 76ers.
