The Milwaukee Bucks have made the largest NBA comeback of the season. The team overturned a 26-point third-quarter deficit to secure a 108-102 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
This feat stands as Milwaukee's second-largest comeback in the past 25 seasons, trailing only a 27-point turnaround against Chicago in 2012.
Trailing 81-55 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter, the Bucks finished the game with a 58-21 run. During this period, Milwaukee stars Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo outscored the Trail Blazers 32-21, contributing 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Antetokounmpo, concluding the game with 33 points, broke a tie by tipping in a crucial basket with 18.5 seconds left, securing the lead for the Bucks.
"Sometimes we just make it tough on ourselves," said Antetokounmpo.
"Don't get me wrong, I think Portland is a very good team – young team, play hard, but we just make it tough. We can't start the game like that. We should not be down 26 and then try to come and win the game. That takes a toll on your body. But at the end of the day, I'm happy we were able to win."
According to ESPN's win probability analytics, the Trail Blazers had a greater than 98 percent chance of winning during the third quarter before the Bucks made the comeback.
"Just being resilient and staying with it," said Bucks forward Bobby Portis.
"Things weren't going our way. We're missing bunnies, missing layups, turning the ball over, but we had a chance to watch some things at half, correct some things and then go out there in the second half and give it our all.
Despite playing without forward Khris Middleton, who missed the game due to tendinitis in his left Achilles, the Bucks improved their season record to 12-5. Bucks coach Adrian Griffin described Middleton's status as day-to-day, with no specific timeline for his return as the Bucks prepare to face the Miami Heat on November 29.
Lillard's first matchup against the Portland
Sunday's game was also a significant moment for Lillard since it was his first matchup against the Trail Blazers, the team he had been with for the first 11 years of his professional career.
Lillard requested a trade during the summer, leading to his move to the Milwaukee Bucks before starting the training camp.
Lillard did not address the media after the game. However, he had acknowledged the unique nature of facing his former team during a post-game walk-off interview with Bally Sports Wisconsin.
"Once I walked in, I saw a lot of familiar faces, I thought about going in the visitors locker room for a second, but I was like, man, this a little bit different," he said.
"When we got on the court, I saw everybody and it's a weird feeling. But once we started playing, I got over it quick."
Sunday's game also marked the second consecutive occasion on which both Lillard and Antetokounmpo each scored 30 points, making them the second pair of Bucks teammates to achieve this in a single game since Marques Johnson and Brian Winters in 1978.
Antetokounmpo expressed optimism about the chemistry between himself and Lillard. He believes that once they establish a higher level of cohesion, the Bucks will become an even more formidable team.