By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Dame Time just started ticking in Milwaukee.
With only 5.2 seconds left in the overtime period, the Milwaukee Bucks were in need of a miracle heave without any timeouts left against the Sacramento Kings last January 15, 2024.
As adrenaline rushed in the most important possession for the Bucks, no one who loved this kind of moments more than Damian Lillard who answered the call and delivered.
After Brook Lopez received the inbounding pass, the stretch center was quick to give it up to Lillard who ran quick to the other end.
As Lillard reached the half-court center line with 2.6 seconds left, the superstar point guard took two steps to his left and hoisted a long three-pointer. When the ball looped, everyone stood. With heads up and all phones directing to the bucket, the thousands in attendance at the Fiserv Forum then went crazy after the floor general sank the game-winning basket to fend off Sacramento, 143-142.
Lillard wrapped up the overtime victory with 29 points built from five drained three-pointers, eight assists, and four rebounds.
Backstopping Lillard was Giannis Antetokounmpo who finished with a triple-double performance of 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals.
Milwaukee and Sacramento needed an extra five-minute period after a nip-and-tuck affair in all the four quarters.
It wasn’t an easy start for the Bucks as Sacramento quickly raced to a six-point lead courtesy of a waxing hot De’Aaron Fox.
Just when the Kings thought they could sustain their firepower, the Bucks countered quickly with back-to-back three-pointers to equalize the ball game.
The Kings were looking to bag the win after clinching a four-point lead, 141-137, with only 18.4 seconds left.
However, Malik Monk missed two crucial free throws which led to a Brook Lopez three-pointer to cut Milwaukee’s deficit to just a point, 141-140.
It was Fox who got fouled for Sacramento during the next possession but the spitfire guard split both of his shots.
Lillard then put the icing on the cake after converting the long three-point game-winner that helped the Bucks bag their third straight victory.
