The Milwaukee Bucks (5-9) rallied late in the fourth to snatch a thrilling 101-100 win over the Houston Rockets (10-5) on November 19.
Lillard returned from a three-game absence with a little rust but came alive when it mattered most. Trailing by 6, Lillard scored or assisted on the Bucks’ next 7 points and then slid in the game-winning layup with 3.2 seconds remaining. He finished with 18 points but shot a tough 6-18 from the field and 0-6 from three.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge, dropping 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Brook Lopez filled the stat sheet with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 blocks.
Fred VanVleet took over for the Rockets, posting 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jalen Green registered 21 points and 9 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun tallied 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Tari Eason provided a boost from the bench, putting up 9 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks, but Houston couldn’t prevent their five-game winning streak from coming to an end. Houston, after scoring 143 points in their previous win, struggled to find their range, shooting just 9-for-32 from three and recording their lowest-scoring output of the season.
Green and VanVleet Fueled Rockets’ Charge, But Bucks Prevailed
The Rockets opened the game strong, surging ahead (16-3). But the Bucks found their touch from distance, closing the gap to 1. Milwaukee continued their torrid shooting in the second, going on an 11-2 blast to take a (38-30) lead. Lopez and Trent Jr. combined for 8-of-10 shooting from three, helping the Bucks build a 12-point advantage at the break.
Milwaukee maintained their lead in the third, but Houston staged a late push with a 19-8 run to narrow the deficit to 3. VanVleet sparked the rally, scoring 14. Jalen Green went off in the fourth, putting his squad on top (97-92), but it was all Milwaukee from there.
The Bucks host the Bulls on Thursday, while the Rockets clash with the Pacers.
