On Tuesday evening, the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Portland Trail Blazers (in Oregon) by a score of 125-112. Damian Lillard finished the loss with 20 points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal while shooting 7/17 from the field and 2/6 from the three-point range in 38 minutes of playing time.

Trail Blazers' Camara #33 is helped up by teammates Donovan Clingan #23 and Shaedon Sharpe #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers after drawing a foul during the third quarter of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Moda Center on January 28, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images) Getty Images

This is the second game in Portland for Lillard since he was traded to Milwaukee in September 2023. Last season, the Blazers beat the Bucks in Portland, 119-116.

The Blazers are functionally in the same place as before the trade — hoping lottery luck can save them from mediocrity

Unsurprisingly, the Milwaukee Bucks will not be dealing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. ESPN's Bobby Marks

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and guard Damian Lillard are seen during their game against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 14, 2024. “Our chemistry has gotten better,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think, with time, we’re just going to keep on getting better.”

Back-to-back stellar performances from Damian Lillard show the Milwaukee Bucks have enough to compete for an NBA title.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 39 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who had won nine of their last 11 but were playing their third game in four nights.

The rebuilding Trail Blazers spoiled yet another homecoming for Damian Lillard as they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-112.

The trade would send Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, MarJon Beauchamp, and a 2031 first-round pick (via Phoenix) to Miami and Jimmy Butler and Delon Wright to Phoenix. Butler has been linked to the Bucks as a possible trade candidate, though there's confusion about his desire to join the franchise.

Portland faces Milwaukee in out-of-conference play. The teams square off Tuesday for the first time this season.

Damian Lillard's second trip back to Portland is nowhere near as big a deal as his first. After Lillard made a much-anticipated return last season, the buzz is much lighter this time as he and the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.