Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard reacts after a call against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Salt Lake City.
Rob Gray / AP
Damian Lillard returns to Portland Tuesday night as the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Trail Blazers at Moda Center.
This will be the fourth time Lillard has faced off against his former team, the second time in Rip City, since being traded to Milwaukee before the start of last season. The Blazers have won two of the first three contests against their former point guard.
Lillard’s first return trip to Portland was an emotional affair last January. Lillard, who is the Trail Blazers' all-time leading scorer, repeatedly flashed heart hands to Portland fans before the game as they met him with a raucous ovation.
After the Bucks' Monday night win over the Utah Jazz, Lillard reflected on that inaugural visit to Portland as a member of another team. He called it “a little bit weird” to be a visitor in the place he played for 11 seasons.
“I think this year it’ll be a little more chill,” Lillard said. “It’ll be good to see everybody. I’ll get to take my son to school in the morning, see my family, see all my people.”
Back in Portland and got right back to the school routine with my oldest. Jersey day! 🤷🏽♂️ 🤣
Posted by Damian Lillard on Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Lillard said that ultimately he’s focused on beating the Blazers Tuesday. The Bucks are sitting in fourth place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers, Celtics and Knicks. Lillard is 11th in the league in scoring with 25.5 points per game.
Portland has been on a hot streak of late, winning four of its last five games. The team is 13th place in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers beat Lillard and the Bucks earlier this season 105-102 in Milwaukee.
Tuesday’s game between Portland and Milwaukee will be nationally televised on TNT and will not be available on KUNP as most other games have been this season.