Doc Rivers makes feelings clear on "Dame Time" performance

Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers praised guard Damian Lillard for his outstanding performance and clutch play in their 114-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, which secured their spot in the semifinals of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup.

Lillard showcased his typical "Dame Time" in the crucial win, contributing 11 of the final 13 Bucks points to lead the team to their second consecutive victory and their ninth in the last 11 games, bringing their record to 13-11 and placing them sixth in the Eastern Conference.

With under a minute left in the fourth quarter, Damian Lillard hit a stepback 3-pointer to tie the game at 106. He then outscored the Magic 6-3 down the stretch to seal the win. Doc Rivers wasn’t surprised by his star guard’s performance, saying (per Eric Nehm):

"That's just Dame being Dame."

Damian Lillard has been strong this season, averaging 25.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds. He finished the game with 28 points and nine assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a dominant performance, finishing with 37 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Bobby Portis added 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Doc Rivers says Damian Lillard reminds him of Hall of Famer

In November, the Milwaukee Bucks eked out a big win over the Houston Rockets, thanks to a Damian Lillard game-winner.

After the game, Doc Rivers compared Lillard to Ray Allen, whom he coached during all five seasons Allen played in Boston.

"Well Dame just has great courage," Rivers said. "Reminds me a lot of Ray Allen in that way."

Allen averaged 16.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 358 games for the Celtics during his career.

Both he and Damian Lillard are members of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team and are well-known shooters.

Allen won his first NBA championship in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics. In the 2013 NBA Finals, when he was a member of the Miami Heat, he hit a game-tying 3-point basket in the final seconds of Game 6, forcing overtime and an eventual Game 7, where Allen captured his second championship.

Allen retired after 19 seasons as the all-time leader in 3-point field goals, but he has since been surpassed by Steph Curry and James Harden.