Damian Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league, however, he isn’t talked about enough. Overall, it is easy to see why this is the case. He plays for the Portland Trail Blazers who are largely irrelevant right now. They do not have the pieces to be playoff contenders, and ultimately, Lillard has been loyal to them, to a fault. He wants to win a championship in Portland, but at this point, it remains to be seen if that is possible. Although most fans just want him to go elsewhere, namely the Lakers, it doesn’t seem like a real possibility right now.
That said, Lillard is known for exploding on offense. There have been multiple occasions in which he has popped off for a grand total of 60 points. However, he has never gone for 70. On Sunday, that changed in front of our very eyes as Lillard started out his game against the Rockets with 41 points in the first half alone. Subsequently, he went off for 30 more points in the second half. If you are counting properly at home, you will know that he dropped a grand total of 71 points, which is wild.
Damian Lillard Goes Off
2nd-most 3PM in a game in NBA history (13)
8th player to score 70+ PTS in a single game (71)
The first player in NBA history with 70+ PTS, 5+ REB, 5+ AST and 10+ 3PM in a single game…What a night for Damian Lillard
pic.twitter.com/8MMHxePNUu
— NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2023
This is the second 71-point game of the NBA season. Back in early January, Donovan Mitchell went for 71. It was an incredible match for Mitchell, who became the 7th player to score over 70 in a game. Consequently, Lillard is the eighth. Thankfully for the Blazers, they were able to secure the win thanks to Lillard’s performance. Had the team lost, it would have been embarrassing for the bench and all of the other starters. Although, the Blazers were playing the Houston Rockets which definitely helps.
For the Blazers, they are in a fight with teams like the Lakers for that final play-in spot. It is going to be a very difficult fight, but if Lillard keeps playing like this, then the team should be fine. As always, let us know what you thought of this performance, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.
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