by Murat Karul

Damian Lillard reached a significant career milestone by scoring a season-high 40 points, surpassing 20,000 career points. In the Milwaukee Bucks’ 132-119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Lillard became the 51st player and eighth active player in NBA history to achieve this feat. The accomplishment makes him the 17th-fastest player to reach 20,000 points, accomplishing this in his 794th career game.

Lillard’s exceptional offensive skills were praised by Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, highlighting his shooting ability, floor-stretching capability, and versatility in putting pressure on opposing defenses. Lillard joins an elite group of active players, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, and Chris Paul, who have also surpassed 20,000 points.

Notably, Lillard, James, Curry, and Harden stand out in NBA history as the only players with 20,000 points, 5,000 assists, and 2,000 3-pointers. Reflecting on his journey, Lillard emphasized the challenges he faced, expressing gratitude for his mentality and self-belief that propelled him to this achievement.

Giannis Antetokounmpo played a crucial role in the Bucks’ victory, recording a triple-double with a career-high 16 assists, 14 rebounds, and 11 points. The win extended Milwaukee’s home winning streak to 14 games, marking their longest such streak since 1991.

The absence of Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, due to a sore right ankle, prevented a matchup with Antetokounmpo for the first time in Wembanyama’s pro career. Despite the setback, the Spurs look forward to their upcoming game against the Chicago Bulls, while the Bucks continue their successful homestand by hosting the Orlando Magic.