Damian Lillard scores 16 in the 4th quarter, and Bucks hold off short-handed LA Clippers 124-117

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 16 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter of the Milwaukee Bucks’ first victory on their California road trip, 124-117 over the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Lillard hit three of his seven 3-pointers in the fourth, while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Bucks’ superstar duo took over the game down the stretch. Antetokounmpo and Lillard became only the second pair of teammates since 1980 to record at least 30 points and 10 assists apiece in the same game, according to the NBA.

“It’s how we work in practice,” Antetokounmpo said. “We got a lot of good shots down the stretch. Tonight it worked, and it’s something we’re going to have to do moving forward.”

From the start of the fourth quarter, Antetokounmpo and Lillard either scored or assisted on 31 consecutive points for Milwaukee, decimating the Clippers with the two-man game that the Bucks are counting on to lead them to championship contention.

“I think it’s getting much better,” Lillard said of his connection to Antetokounmpo in their first season as teammates. “To start the season, I think a lot of people wanted it to just click and happen right away. But I think any time you put two guys together who have always been the decision-maker, always had their hands on the ball for years and years and years, it’s going to take time for us to learn how to play with each other.”

Malik Beasley added 17 points as the Bucks rebounded from back-to-back losses to Golden State and the Lakers by outlasting the Clippers, who played without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Next up for the Bucks a Tuesday night game at Sacramento a game you can here on KFIZ.