Damian Lillard delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 43 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 135-127 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined due to a left calf strain, Lillard's efforts were crucial for Milwaukee, marking only their second win in seven games. He excelled from beyond the arc, hitting eight of 15 three-pointers and contributing eight assists and seven rebounds.Gary Trent Jr. provided significant support off the bench, scoring 23 points and making seven of Milwaukee's season-high 24 three-pointers. Bobby Portis also played a vital role with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Despite Tyrese Maxey's impressive 39-point performance and Joel Embiid's contribution of 27 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, Philadelphia suffered its third consecutive loss.
In the first half, Milwaukee held a narrow lead at 65-63 as Maxey and Embiid kept the game close with their scoring efforts. However, Lillard's hot streak in the third quarter helped the Bucks pull away. He scored 15 points in that period alone, including a six-point burst that extended Milwaukee's lead to double digits.The Houston Rockets ended their six-game losing streak by defeating the Toronto Raptors 94-87. Jalen Green was instrumental in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of his total 18 points to secure Houston's first win since January 28. Despite shooting only 36% from the field and losing Alperen Sengun early due to back spasms, Houston managed to prevail.Dillon Brooks led Houston with 19 points while Jock Landale contributed with a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds. For Toronto, Immanuel Quickley scored 20 points with eight rebounds, while Scottie Barnes added 15 points along with nine rebounds and seven assists.