Damian Lillard

Exhilarated, as if he hadn’t seen Damian Lillard’s cold-blooded crunchtime chops a thousand times before, the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting center pondered a simple post-game question: in clutch moments, how many other players would you rather have making the decisions? For the Houston Rockets — historically on the wrong end of both postseason daggers and 71-point avalanches — the answer might reasonably be anyone else on planet Earth. Pressed into action once more, the eight-time All-Star uses a nifty pivot-and-spin to break free of isolation island against Dillon Brooks’ All-Defensive Team resistance. Well-balanced, even after surviving test No. 1, Lillard conquers the “final boss” of sorts in a crowded paint, banking in a double-clutch to give the Bucks the unlikeliest of leads. Once upon a time trailing 100-94 in the final minute, Lillard’s play, paired with two-way contributions from heroes both sung and unsung, helped the Bucks continue their corner-turning ways. In his first game back after a three-game absence, Lillard re-announced his arrival on November 18, 2024 through 18 points, four rebounds, and 10 assists.