With a 119–116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, the Trail Blazers ruined Damian Lillard’s return to Portland. Anfernee Simons scored 24 points, including a key jumper with 17.1 seconds left.

The Bucks lost their second straight game under new coach Doc Rivers. Lillard scored 25 points for them. Plus, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

They have won two games in a row thanks to Deandre Ayton’s 20 points and 11 boards.

Lillard had not played in a game in Portland since he was moved to the Bucks during the off-season. From his first 10 years in the NBA, Lillard was the Blazers’ most famous player.

In the first half, the Blazers had a small lead. In the third quarter, they kept it close until Matisse Thybulle’s 3-pointer put them ahead 86-81. Simons made a jump shot that put Portland ahead 96–61 going into the last quarter.

Malcolm Brogdon made a three-pointer that made the score 101–91 in favor of Portland. The Bucks were now ahead 101–95 after Lillard’s three-pointer.

Down the stretch, Milwaukee put pressure on Portland. Brook Lopez’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 113–112. But with 2:21 left, Jerami Grant made an off-balance shot for Portland to tie the game.

It was only a point between the teams again after Lillard’s layup. It was 37.2 seconds left when Lillard did an ally-oop dunk that put the Bucks ahead. But Simons’ jumper gave Portland the lead back, and Grant added two free throws to make it a 9–7 game.

The Blazers fouled Antetokounmpo in the last seconds, but he missed both free throws, which gave Portland the win.

Even though they lost, Lillard had a great night. Many people cheered for the eight-time All-Star before the game, and honors were shown on the TV screen during timeouts. At one point, he looked like he was about to cry.

His drive-and-layup was the first basket for Milwaukee in the game.

It was only the Bucks’ second game with Rivers in charge. The Denver Nuggets beаt him in his first game on Monday night, 113-107.

After 43 games and a 30-13 record, Griffin was fired as the Bucks’ first-year coach last week. Rivers took over for Griffin. Even though the Bucks are only a few games behind Boston in the Eastern Conference, there were worries about their defense.

Lillard was signed just before the season began so that he could play with Antetokounmpo, who has won two MVP awards, and try to win another NBA title. It was the Bucks who won the title in 2021.

While Lillard has been out, the Blazers have focused on developing young players. Last year’s No. 3 pick in the draft, Scoot Henderson, scored 15 points in the first half after coming off the bench.

Portland, which is in last place in the Western Conference, kept up with the Bucks the whole first half. At the end of the first half, Simons made a 3-pointer that tied the score at 61. At the break, Portland was ahead 67–65.

They played each other earlier this season, and the Bucks won 108–102 in Milwaukee.