Damian Lillard put on a first-half scoring clinic, dropping 35 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks secure a 109-94 win over the Indiana Pacers in their NBA playoff opener, despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a strained left calf.
Damian Lillard went more than 34 months between playoff games, and he was armed for the moment in Game 1. Lillard announced his presence by scoring 35 points in the first half of his initial playoff game with Milwaukee.
If history is any indicator, Damian Lillard is one of those players who turns it up a notch during the playoffs. He did so again in his first playoff game with the Bucks.
The Bucks' worst fears were realized on Sunday when head coach Doc Rivers announced that star Giannis Antetokounmpo would miss Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Pacers.