The Trail Blazers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 119-116 on Wednesday night, spoiling Damian Lillard’s return to Portland with a game-winning shot and 24 points from Anfernee Simons.

For the Bucks, who have dropped three of their last four games, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points and eight rebounds, Damian Lillard had 25 points and seven assists, and Khris Middleton had 21 points and eight assists.

Before requesting a trade in the offseason and ultimately getting traded to the Bucks, Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Trail Blazers.

With 17.6 seconds remaining, Simons made a floater to put the Trail Blazers ahead, and Jerami Grant added two free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining to help Portland win their second straight game.

The Trail Blazers’ Deandre Ayton scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, Grant scored 18, Scoot Henderson scored 15 points off the bench, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 14.

Before the game, Lillard, the all-time top scorer for the Trail Blazers, was presented to a prolonged and enthusiastic applause. He greeted the audience several times and tapped his wrist to indicate that it was “Dame Time.”

With 1:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, Lillard broke into the lane for a slam that pulled Milwaukee within one point, 115-114.

With 37.9 seconds remaining, Antetokounmpo was set up for a dunk by Lillard after Malik Beasley forced a turnover. This gave the Bucks a 116-115 lead.

Simons responded next, putting Portland ahead to stay with the floater.

Then, Ayton and Brogdon’s strong defense made Lillard give up the ball. With around eight seconds remaining, Brook Lopez attempted a 3-pointer, but it sailed off the hoop.

Lillard only shot 9 of 23 overall, with 3 of 13 coming from 3-point range.

The Bucks, led by Bobby Portis with 11 points and Lopez with 19 points, made 48.9 percent of their shots and were 13 of 45 from outside the arc.

Portland’s 3-point percentage was 12 of 28 (32.9%), or 53.3 percent, of their total field goals made. With ten points, Duop Reath led the Trail Blazers.

Simons scored a 15-foot jump shot with three seconds left in the third quarter to give Portland a 96-91 lead. Brogdon scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to extend the margin to ten points.

Lillard’s trademark 30-foot 3-pointer with 8:57 left reduced the Bucks’ margin to six points.

Portland led 67–65 at the break. In the first half, Lillard and Antetokounmpo scored fifteen points apiece for Milwaukee.