On March 5, Beijing time, the NBA regular season staged a thrilling battle. Despite the absence of a key player, the Bucks defeated the Clippers 113-106 to make it six wins in a row. In the six games since the All-Star break, they have not tasted defeat, tied with the Nuggets, and have a league-leading record.
In this game, the absence of Brother Alphabet undoubtedly brought a lot of challenges to the Bucks. In the opening quarter, they trailed by 10 points, 25-35. In the first three quarters of the game, they failed to score more than 25 points in a single quarter, trailing by as many as 15 points. However, just when people thought the Bucks would not be able to recover, they had a full-blown outburst in the fourth quarter. With 40 points in the quarter and the Clippers scoring just 25 points, the Bucks completed a stunning comeback.
Lillard played well in the game, as if he was a repeat of his glory days with the Trail Blazers, scoring 41 points with accurate shooting and free throws. Portis, who came off the bench, also performed well, contributing 28 points and 16 rebounds, including 14 points and 7 rebounds in the final quarter, becoming the first player to score 25+15 off the bench this season. The starter Beverley also played steadily, scoring 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals, contributing to the team's victory.
In contrast, the Clippers' small lineup in the final quarter couldn't match the rhythm of the Bucks, and Kawhi Leonard and George didn't live up to expectations in crunch time. This made the Clippers lose in the end.
It is worth mentioning that Rivers had a record of only 3 wins and 7 losses in 10 games he coached before the All-Star break, which raised questions about his coaching ability. However, after the All-Star break, the Bucks, led by Rivers, defeated the Timberwolves, 76ers, Hornets (home), Hornets (away), Bulls and Clippers to win a wave of six in a row. As a result, Rivers' environment quickly improved, and people began to re-evaluate his coaching ability.
However, the next Devils four-game road trip will be a huge test for Rivers and the Bucks. From March 7 to March 13, Beijing time, they will play against a team in the West every other day, namely the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers and Kings. This wave of road trips is extremely difficult, and it is a severe test of Rivers' coaching ability and the overall strength of the Bucks. We look forward to their continued tenacity and outstanding performances on this journey."