Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard has Jordan-esque double-double, earns NBA All-Star Award News, Sports, Jobs

Bucks’ Damian Lillard (center) dribbles the ball with Miami Heat’s Haywood Highsmith (left) and Tyler Herro during the second half of last Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee. (AP file photo)

INDIANAPOLIS — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard came to Indianapolis with one purpose in mind — to win.

The first-time All-Star starter made a rare sweep of the All-Star weekend on Sunday.

One day after winning the 3-point contest for the second time in a row, Lillard scored 39 points, made 11 3-pointers and drained six as the East beat the West in a record-breaking 211-186 victory. Assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal, earning MVP honors. . He is the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988 to win two championships on back-to-back nights.

“I just know you have to keep shooting and I think in a game like this, the ball is going to be really loose and you’re going to get your chances,” Lillard said. “I just told myself I’m going to be more aggressive and I’m going to keep firing. “I saw a couple go in and then I was just kind of chasing it. “

Of course he did – and with great talent. At times it seemed like he couldn’t miss and nothing was out of his range.

The eight-time All-Star’s first three points came from an NBA icon. In the third quarter, he hit a pull-up 3-pointer in half court and then ended the night with a second half-court 3-pointer late in the game.

In his first appearance in the Eastern Conference, Lillard made 14 of 26 shots and 11 of 23 three-pointers. He broke the All-Star Game record for total points and three-pointers with 42 points.

He tied for the lead in the first-round 3-point contest and passed the tiebreaker before winning his second consecutive title with his final shot of the night.

By Sunday, Lillard, who was plagued by injuries early this season, was apparently back to full strength.

“You could tell he was trying,” “Antetokounmpo” said with a smile, perhaps imagining what the Bucks can do with this version of Lillard in the final 26 games. “As a team, all we had to do was get him the ball, and he did what he does best. He made a lot of things happen. Did I do 10, 11? “He totally deserves it (MVP). “

This could be a more important off-court weekend for Lillard, who was traded to Milwaukee in the offseason. New Bucks coach Doc Rivers leads the Eastern Conference, and with Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s staff in town, Lillard has a chance to spend some extra time with him after returning from Portland in the offseason. The third different coach from the trade met and bonded.

But the league’s 2013 Rookie of the Year and 2018 All-NBA selection still has something to prove this weekend. With two unforgettable shooting performances in two days, he made a statement that only he could make, sweeping all the awards.

“Anytime you and Mike (Jordan) are mentioned in the same category, it’s an honor and a major accomplishment, even if it’s All-Star weekend.” Lillard said. “If it were that simple, a lot more people would have done it since 1988. So it’s a bigger achievement for me.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox