Damian Lillard Stats Tonight: How did Bucks superstar fare on return after 4-game absence? (Dec. 28)

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard returned to action on Saturday after missing their previous four games. He struggled in the early goings but picked things up as the game progressed, finishing with 29 points, 11 assists and six rebounds as they gave the Chicago Bulls a tough time on the road before losing 116-111.

Lillard missed time because of calf injury and illness but was made available for their showdown with the Bulls at the United Center. He played 36 minutes as he tried to help the Bucks make it three straight wins this season against their Central Division rival.

Milwaukee trailed 62-60 at the half but it battled Chicago in the second half, with Lillard on the lead. The teams went back-and-forth all the way to the end before the home team made a late charge to book the win.

Damian Lillard's stats against the Chicago Bulls:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
Damian Lillard	29	6	11	1	0	0	8-19	3-9	10-10	-4

The loss was the second straight for the Bucks, who dropped to 16-14 for the season. They next play on Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers on the road.

Lillard seeks to continue winning with the Bucks following NBA Cup success

Before missing some time because of injury, Damian Lillard helped the Milwaukee Bucks claim the Emirates NBA Cup title. It is something he hopes to sustain as they make their push for the NBA championship. The Bucks defeated the OKC Thunder 97-81 in the NBA Cup Finals on Dec. 17 in Las Vegas.

The All-Star duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard led the way for Milwaukee as it became the second winner of the NBA’s tournament-within-a-tournament after the LA Lakers last year. Following their NBA Cup-clinching win, ‘Dame’ spoke about the significance of their success for him and how it would affect their push collectively moving forward.

“I’ve had a lot of experience individually where I’ve had accomplishments and stuff. But to have some team success and win something and be the last team standing in this tournament, it feels great," he said.

“Getting healthy, getting my training in and having my mind right coming back into the season was all it really was for me. When we lost in the playoffs last year, I said it right after the game. ‘People will see.’”

In the 2024 NBA Cup, Lillard averaged 27.3 points, 8.3 assists, four rebounds and 1.2 steals in 37 minutes per game. In the finals, he finished with 23 points to backstop Antetokounmpo’s triple-double of 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

Lillard joined the Bucks last season following a three-team blockbuster deal involving the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. An Achilles injury, however, cut short his playoff campaign, with the Bucks exiting the postseason in the opening round.