The Milwaukee Bucks have kicked off the 2024 NBA Playoffs in impressive fashion.
The team notched a commanding 109-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday, April 21 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Bucks star Damian Lillard was unstoppable right from the beginning, exploding for 19 points in the first quarter and finishing with 35 points in the first half alone, setting the pace for his team's dominant performance.
"This is what ya'll brought me here for!," the NBA 75th Anniversary Team member told the crowd after nailing one of his shots in the first half.
The 33-year-old is making his return to the postseason after a two-year absence. He missed playoff action with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022 and 2023.
"Last two years not being in the playoffs, it sucked. Last year, I went to Coachella. I ain't ever been able to go to Coachella," Lillard said in the post-game press conference.
Damian Lillard scored zero points in the second half
After a scorching first-half performance, during which he scored 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting, Lillard went scoreless in the second half, missing all five shot attempts.
The eight-time NBA All-Star broke the record for the most points scored in a first half with no points in the second half in the play-by-play era.
Lillard also contributed six rebounds and three assists to the game, helping the Bucks maintain their early lead and secure the victory.
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