Two of the most exciting NBA players are teaming up for the first time this Thursday as Damian Lillard makes his debut with the Milwaukee Bucks, joining forces with fellow superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The season opener for both teams will see the Milwaukee Bucks host the Philadelphia 76ers. Notably, the 76ers will be missing All-Star James Harden and are considered underdogs, trailing by 6 points according to the SportsLine consensus.
Lillard, at 33 years old, is a seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection. Last season, he had a career-high average of 32.2 points per game while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, seven-time All-Star, and All-NBA pick, also had a career-best season, averaging 31.1 points per game. This remarkable feat places Lillard and Giannis in elite company, as they become only the second pair of teammates in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game in the previous season, a distinction previously held by Elgin Baylor and Jerry West of the 1962-63 Lakers.
For Thursday’s game, Lillard and Antetokounmpo have over/underscoring predictions set at 26.5 and 27.5 points, respectively. Over the past five seasons, Giannis has been the leading scorer in the league, averaging 29.2 points per game, while Lillard ranks third at 28.5. Antetokounmpo’s commitment to the Bucks was in question earlier this summer, as he withheld an extension until he saw evidence of the team’s determination to contend for another championship. However, he surprised many by signing a three-year, $186 million extension with Milwaukee this Monday, aligning his contract with Lillard’s.
In the 2022-23 season, Giannis made a compelling case for his third MVP award. He secured a career-high scoring average, ranking third in MVP voting. Additionally, he was second in the NBA in rebounds, with 11.8 per game. Giannis also demonstrated versatility by averaging 5.7 assists and maintaining a remarkable field goal percentage of 55.3%. His performance marked only the fourth instance in NBA history of a player averaging at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and shooting over 50% from the field in a single season, a feat previously achieved by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.
Following another disappointing postseason, the Bucks decided to part ways with coach Mike Budenholzer and appointed former Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as their head coach. Griffin will lead the team for the first time this season. The primary injury concern for the Bucks centers around Khris Middleton, the third member of their star trio. Middleton has been plagued by frequent injuries and underwent knee surgery during the offseason. While he participated in just one preseason game, Coach Griffin expects Middleton to play an increased role in Thursday’s game, though he’s likely to see no more than 30 minutes of playing time.
Meanwhile, James Harden is healthy but remains dissatisfied, attempting to engineer a trade to the LA Clippers. He recently rejoined the team for practice on Wednesday, as sitting out games would mean losing out on pay. However, the team instructed Harden to stay in Philadelphia, causing him to miss the upcoming game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. The Sixers will have their home debut on Sunday against Lillard’s former team, and Harden might make an appearance then.
Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ center, claimed his first MVP award last season and secured the scoring title for the second consecutive year with a career-high average of 33.1 points per game. His over/under-scoring prediction for the night, stands at 28.5 points.
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