Lillard scores 35 in return to playoffs, Bucks defeat Pacers

Damian Lillard returned to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2021 and performed like a man who had sorely missed playing on that stage.

The former Trail Blazers star scored 35 points, all in the first half, to lead the Bucks to a 109-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference series.

Lillard, who led Portland to eight playoff appearances in 11 seasons, scored 19 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second to finish the first half with 35 on 11-of-19 shooting while sinking 6 of 10 three-point attempts.

The Bucks, who began the series without Giannis Antetokounmpo (lower leg strain), led 69-42 at halftime.

The Pacers put the clamps on Lillard in the second half. He attempted just five shots missing all of them to go scoreless the rest of the way.

The Bucks, expected to have Antetokounmpo available later in the series, went 1-4 against the Pacers during the regular season.

Lillard’s last playoff appearance ended with a 4-2 series loss to Denver in 2021. The Blazers missed the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 contributing to Lillard requesting a trade last summer.

— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)

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