On December 18, 2023, Beijing time, the Rockets challenged the Bucks away.
In the first quarter of the game, Jalen Green broke through the layup and caused a foul and made two free throws to open the score, Middleton made a backhand layup and also colored, Shen Jing hit a jumper, Lillard hit a three-point shot, the two teams went back and forth, the score alternately led, at the end of the quarter, the Rockets' offense was slightly stagnant, Lillard burst out and scored 5 points in a row to help the Bucks gradually pull the score away, as Lillard broke through and played 2+1 again, the Bucks led by 5 points at 33:28 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Bucks' offensive firepower did not decrease, Connaughton's outside three-point rush took the lead, Smith teamed up with Eason to score 4 points in a row to help the Rockets bite the score, Brother Alphabet was not to be outdone, and continuously broke through the Rockets inside to pick up the basket to return 4 points, as Jackson hit consecutive shots, the score came to 43:52, the Rockets asked for a timeout in time, after the timeout, Shen Jing threw and scored two points, Middleton drifted and jumped to the color, Jackson hit a three-point outside line, Lopez turned around and shot backwards, the Bucks expanded the score to double digits, at the end of the quarter, Lillard scored consecutive layups, Lopez pressed the whistle three-point hollow into the net, and the Bucks led by 11 points at 71:60 at the end of the first half。
Yibian fought again, the Rockets began to exert their strength, Shen Jing dunked and scored first, Smith jumped the icing on the cake, Brother Alphabet, Dillon Brooks soared three points, Shen Jing shot again, with Jalen Green outside three-point shooting, the score came to 72:77, and then Lopez was not to be outdone, the outside three-pointer rose and fell to color, Lillard also shot three points, the Bucks quickly opened the gap again, the score came to 83:72, the Rockets were forced to request, the effect was immediate after the timeout, VanVleet, Jalen Green, Shen Jing scored points in a row, seeing that the Rockets were gaining momentum, the Bucks asked for a timeout in time to set up, Lillard scored three points again, Portis also scored three points with the icing on the cake, and the point difference was opened again, and the Bucks beat the Rockets 100:91 in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, the Rockets continued to exert force, Smith scored consecutive breakthroughs to chase the difference to only 6 points, the Bucks asked for a timeout, after the pause, Dillon hooked his hand, Smith Jr. stepped back and scored again, the Rockets chased the score to a difference of 3 points (106:109), Middleton was unrelenting at the critical moment, three points at the top of the arc and hit a dry shot, Dillon caused a foul and hit two free throws, Lillard hit three points again, at the end of the quarter, the Rockets struggled to catch up, but there was little time left, and finally lost to the Bucks 119:128.
In terms of data:
Rocket:
VanVleet had 22 points, 2 rebounds and 6 assists, Dillon had 18 points and 4 rebounds, Shin Jing had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, Jalen Green had 16 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists, Smith had 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, brother-in-law Green had 16 points, and Eason had 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Stag:
Lillard had 39 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists, Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 17 rebounds and 3 assists, Middleton had 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Lopez had 18 points and 6 rebounds, Jackson had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 rebounds, Portis had 11 points and 6 rebounds, and Connaughton had 5 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists.