Antetokounmpo and Lillard's return sparks Bucks to crucial victory

The Milwaukee Bucks made significant moves at the Feb. 6 trade deadline, trading away Khris Middleton and bringing in Kyle Kuzma. Despite facing challenges due to injuries to key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the team remained active and determined to stay competitive in the league.

Sure, it’s too early to make a judgment call on how those trades panned out. And while it’s only one game after the All-Star break, their 116-110 win over the LA Clippers on Thursday offered a glimpse of what the Bucks can accomplish in the second half of the 2024-25 season. Having Antetokounmpo and Lillard fully healthy can be a game-changer for Milwaukee, as very few teams in the league feature two stars who can change the course of a game on their own like this pairing.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the win was how it happened. The Bucks were down midway through the fourth quarter and the Clippers looked on their way to another win, but Milwaukee turned things around in the final seven minutes by completing a 13-point comeback after Antetokounmpo exited the game. The star forward scored 23 points in his return after missing six games with a strained calf, but he logged just under 24 minutes and exited for good with 6:27 remaining in the game.

When he left, the Bucks were trailing 101-96. Milwaukee then completed its comeback with Antetokounmpo on the bench, as the role players stepped up. Brook Lopez scored 22 points and put the Bucks ahead for good by converting a three-point play with 3:02 remaining. The Bucks will need Kuzma, who is continuing to settle into the starting lineup, to be at his best now that Bobby Portis will miss 25 games due to a suspension.

Speaking of taking over, Lillard scored 12 of his 15 points in the last 6:48 of the game. The star floor general, who represented the Bucks in the 2025 All-Star Game, took over down the stretch when Milwaukee needed him the most. It was Dame Time once again.

The Bucks sit at 30-24 this season but they could be set to reach top gear at the perfect time. If they get hot just in time for the playoffs, the Bucks could be a team no one wants to face in the postseason, particularly with their stars back to full strength.