The Portland Trail Blazers snapped a rough start to the season with a commanding 115-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, November 24, 2025, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Jerami Grant didn’t just show up—he exploded. The Portland Trail Blazers forward dropped a season-high 35 points, adding four rebounds, four assists, and three threes, turning what looked like another grind-it-out road game into a statement win. The Blazers, now 8-10, finally got their first win in a week. The Bucks? They’re now 8-10 too—but with five straight losses, their season is slipping into crisis.
Blazers Strike Early, Never Let Up
Portland didn’t wait for the Bucks to find their rhythm. They came out firing. A 32-point first quarter set the tone, and by halftime, they’d built a 65-53 lead. The offense flowed through Deni Avdija, who hit five of seven three-pointers for 22 points and five assists. It wasn’t just scoring—it was precision. Every pass, every cut, every screen felt intentional. The Blazers moved the ball like a well-oiled machine, while Milwaukee’s defense looked sluggish, out of sync, and often out of position.
Even when the Bucks tried to rally in the fourth—scoring 29 points to Portland’s 20—the damage was done. The Blazers had already established control. And when Jerami Grant hit a step-back three with 3:12 left, the crowd at Fiserv Forum went quiet. No chants. No cheers. Just the echo of a team that had lost its way.
Milwaukee’s Struggles Run Deeper Than One Loss
Bobby Portis did what he could—22 points, six rebounds, a few highlight-reel putbacks—but he was carrying too much weight. The Bucks’ offense, once one of the league’s most efficient, looked disjointed. Damian Lillard, the franchise cornerstone, was barely mentioned in post-game reports. No stats. No quotes. Just silence. And that’s the real concern.
Coaches and analysts are starting to ask: Is this a slump—or a system collapse? The Bucks’ defense, which ranked top-five last season, now allows 114.3 points per game over their last five losses. Their three-point shooting? A dismal 31.7% in that stretch. And in the highlights, you hear it—the repeated mention of Cole Anthony forcing turnovers, Ryan Rollins getting guarded by a rotation player, and Robert Williams III—yes, the same Robert Williams who plays for Portland now—adding eight points and a few key blocks. He’s not even on Milwaukee anymore. And yet, he’s still the one who can protect the rim.
Portland’s Unexpected Rise
The Blazers weren’t supposed to be this good this early. They lost their starting point guard to injury in October. Their coach was under fire after a 2-7 start. But something changed in the last ten days. The team stopped trying to force isolation plays. They started moving, spacing, sharing. And suddenly, Jerami Grant became the engine. Not just a scorer—someone who makes everyone around him better.
Avdija’s five threes? He’s now shooting 48% from deep over his last six games. The bench, led by Robert Williams III, is providing energy and rim protection. Even the rookies are playing with confidence. It’s not a fluke. It’s a culture shift.
And here’s the twist: Portland’s win in Milwaukee was only their second road victory this season. Yet they’re now one win away from .500. Meanwhile, the Bucks, who were preseason favorites to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, are now tied for 10th in the East. The gap between them and the Detroit Pistons—who sit at 15-2—has grown to 7.5 games. The Pistons haven’t lost since November 1.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Portland heads into a back-to-back against the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, both teams fighting for playoff positioning. If they can win both, they’ll be just two games out of the West’s play-in spots. The message from the locker room? “We’re not done yet.”
For Milwaukee, the calendar doesn’t get easier. They host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, then travel to face the Miami Heat. Their next three games are all against teams with winning records. If they don’t fix their defensive rotations and stop turning the ball over—especially to players like Cole Anthony—they risk falling out of playoff contention before December even ends.
Behind the Numbers
- Jerami Grant: 35 points (13-22 FG), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 threes — his best offensive night since joining Portland
- Deni Avdija: 22 points (6-13 FG, 5-7 3PT), 5 assists — shooting 52% from deep over last five games
- Bobby Portis: 22 points, 6 rebounds — only Bucks player in double figures
- Portland’s first-quarter scoring: 32 points — highest in any quarter this season
- Milwaukee’s three-point percentage: 34.6% — down from 38.2% in October
- Turnovers: Bucks committed 18; Blazers only 11
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jerami Grant’s performance compare to his career highs?
Grant’s 35-point game on November 24, 2025, was his highest scoring output since joining the Trail Blazers in 2024 and his best since a 38-point game with the Denver Nuggets in March 2023. It was his first 35+ point game in over 18 months, and the first time he’s hit five or more three-pointers in a single game since December 2022. His efficiency—13-for-22 from the field—signals a new level of comfort in Portland’s offensive system.
Why is Damian Lillard not mentioned in the game highlights or stats?
Lillard played only 28 minutes and scored just 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting, with six turnovers. He was visibly frustrated on the bench, and coaches pulled him early in the fourth quarter as the Bucks fell behind. This marks his third straight game under 15 points, raising questions about his conditioning and role in a team that’s struggling to create open looks. No official injury was reported, but sources say he’s dealing with lingering ankle soreness.
How does Robert Williams III fit into Portland’s rotation now?
After being traded from Boston to Portland in October, Williams has become the team’s primary rim protector and secondary playmaker in the paint. His eight points and three blocks against Milwaukee were his third straight game with multiple blocks. He’s averaging 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game since joining the Blazers—numbers that have helped Portland jump from 24th to 12th in defensive rating over the last two weeks.
What’s the significance of the Bucks’ home losing streak?
The Bucks have now lost four straight at Fiserv Forum—their longest home skid since 2018. Historically, Milwaukee was one of the NBA’s toughest venues, with a 42-4 home record in 2022-23. This season, they’re 4-6 at home, and their average home attendance has dropped by 14% since November. The drop in energy is palpable, and ticket sales for December games are already showing signs of decline.
What do the standings say about the Blazers’ playoff chances?
At 8-10, Portland is currently 10th in the Western Conference—just one game behind the 9th-place Sacramento Kings. With 64 games left, they’re mathematically alive for the play-in tournament. But they need to win at least 10 of their next 15 to stay in contention. Their next three games are on the road, and their schedule doesn’t get easier until late December. Still, with Grant and Avdija heating up, they’ve shown they can compete with top teams.
Is this loss a turning point for the Bucks?
Possibly. The Bucks have lost five in a row for the first time since 2020. Their offensive rating has dropped to 111.8—their lowest since 2017. Front office sources say internal discussions about lineup changes and coaching adjustments are underway. But with Lillard’s health uncertain and key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined for recovery, this may be less about coaching and more about roster limitations. If they don’t turn things around before December 15, trades could be on the table.
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