MILWAUKEE — Damian Lillard scored 41 points and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-106 on Monday night for their sixth straight win.
Antetokounmpo missed his third game of the season due to left Achilles tendonitis. The only other games he missed were the Nov. 15 win over Toronto with a right calf strain and the Jan. 17 loss against Cleveland with a right shoulder contusion.
Bucks manager Doc Rivers said before the game that his Achilles tendon problem had “come and go the last couple of games.”
Milwaukee is hot enough right now to win a championship without the two-time MVP.
The Bucks are undefeated since the All-Star break and are preparing for a four-game series in California, starting with Wednesday's game against Golden State and including Sunday's rematch with the Clippers.
Bobby Portis scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds. Patrick Beverley added 12 points to spark the victory rally.
James Harden and Paul George each scored 29 points for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard added 16 points.
After falling behind by 13 points late in the third quarter, the Bucks scored 10 straight points to come back within striking distance. With 4:33 remaining, Beverley's 3-pointer finally tied the game at 96 points.
On the Clippers' next possession, Beverley stole the ball from Harden and set up Lillard's driving layup with 4:10 left, giving the Bucks their first lead since the season opener.
Brook Lopez blocked Leonard's driving layup attempt and AJ Green made a deep 3-pointer to make it 101-96. Portis scored the final four points of a 12-0 run to put the Bucks ahead for good.
The Clippers' lead was cut to five points with 1:31 remaining, but Portis scored five straight points to get back to double digits and the Bucks never looked back.
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Clippers: Visit the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Bucks: A four-game trip begins Wednesday with Golden State.
