MILWAUKEE — — Damian Lillard scored 41 points and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-106 Monday night for their sixth straight victory.
Antetokounmpo missed his third game of the season due to left Achilles tendinitis. The only other times he sat out were a Nov. 15 win at Toronto because of a strained right calf and a Jan. 17 loss at Cleveland because of a bruised right shoulder.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game that the Achilles issue had been “on and off for the last two or three games.”
Milwaukee is hot enough right now to win even without its two-time MVP.
The Bucks are undefeated since the All-Star break as they prepare to begin a four-game trip to California that begins Wednesday at Golden State and includes a rematch with the Clippers on Sunday.
Bobby Portis scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 16 rebounds. Patrick Beverley added 12 points and ignited the winning rally.
James Harden and Paul George scored 29 points each for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard added 16 points.
After trailing by 13 in the final minute of the third quarter, the Bucks scored 10 straight points to get back within striking distance. They finally tied the game at 96 on Beverley’s 3-pointer with 4:33 left.
On the Clippers’ ensuing possession, Beverley stole the ball from Harden to set up Lillard’s layup with 4:10 left, which gave the Bucks their first lead since the opening period .
After Brook Lopez blocked Leonard’s layup attempt, AJ Green scored a deep 3-pointer to make the score 101-96. Portis scored the final four points of the 12-0 spurt that gave the Bucks the lead for good.
The Clippers cut the lead to five with 1:31 to play, but Portis scored five straight points to restore the margin to double digits and the Bucks didn’t look back.
FOLLOWING
Clippers: Visit the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Bucks: Begin a four-game trip Wednesday at Golden State.
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