Damian Lillard set the franchise and career high with 71 points – the most in NBA this season — and 13 3-pointers, as Portland Trail Blazers shooting a skateboard two games with one 131-114 previous victory Houston rocket.
Lillard is tied up Cleveland‘S Donovan Mitchell scored the most points in a game this season after Mitchell also scored 71 points in the win Chicago on Jan. 2. Lillard broke his own franchise record of 61 points, which he’s done twice, on a 3-pointer with 4:42 left, while also topping His career record is 3 seconds in a game with 11.
In the final minutes, the crowd at the Moda Center rose to their feet, phones capturing the moment while chanting “MVP! MVP!”
Lillard leaves the game with 44 seconds left.
Lillard had 41 points and eight 3-pointers after halftime. It was the pinnacle of Lillard’s career, the most innings for any player in the league this season and a draw with Kyrie Irving second by a player in the first half of an NBA game in the past 25 seasons (Kobe Bryant finished first with 42 in 2003). Lillard had 50 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
His 11th 3 nights, marking the peak of his career, were 113-103 with 6:43 left. He added a drive and a free throw. Houston couldn’t keep up.
Lillard starts after resting after a 133-116 loss last Thursday night Sacramento. He entered the NBA All-Star Game and won 3 points last weekend.
The Blazers led 73-58 at halftime with Lillard being the 10th player since the 1996-97 season to add 40 points in one half.
Lillard has five games scoring 60 or more points, ranking third of all time behind Wilt Chamberlain and Bryant. Lillard’s 15 games with 50 or more points are the sixth most in NBA history.
“I like those moments in the game when I’m just chasing people,” Lillard said, “when I’m in attack mode.”
And Lillard was tested for drugs shortly after his performance – which made that moment frustrating because Lillard was afraid of needles.
“I know I’ve got a lot of tattoos, but when you draw blood, it’s different from tattoos. It makes me fall from here to the floor,” Lillard said, pointing from above her head and then dropping her hand.
Lillard’s 13 3-pointers fall short of the NBA record set by Golden State’s Klay Thompson in 2018. Thompson’s Warriors teammates Stephen Curry (2016) and Chicago’s Zach LaVine (2019) also hit 13 3-pointers.
“I think any rider loves those moments when you’re hot, you’re in attack mode, you’re feeling good,” Lillard said. “But it’s something that I have to struggle with afterwards, like when I step off the court, should I get too excited?”
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said: “It was a really great performance. “It’s a work of art. It’s unbelievable.”
Lillard became the eighth player to score 70 points in a regular NBA game and the first player over the age of 30 to do so. He is also the fourth player to hit 13 3-pointers in a game. This is the second time he’s passed 60 while doing 10 3-pointers – a feat only he has achieved.
This is the first season in NBA history with many players scoring 70 points
Lillard’s performance sparked a reaction on social media throughout the tournament.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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