By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Damian Lillard once again took over all the spotlight in the NBA bubble with a masterpiece performance on the court, this time in Portland’s 134-131 win against Dallas.
It was definitely ‘Dame Time’ as the Blazers guard went on to bank 61 points including an unbelievable deep three-pointer, which bounced high up and back into the basket, to tie the game down the stretch.
Lillard dedicated the ‘lucky shot’ to his late cousin: “I think that was my cousin, rest in peace, Chef B, I think that was him dropping that in for me. He was just the person who was on top of a lot of things for me and wore a lot of hats for me. He was my right-hand man. Everything I needed, he did for me, basically, and losing him, it hurt. … I just try to continue what I feel like he would want me to do, and I just been dealing with it that way. Just try to continue on the path I know he was proud of.”
He shot 17-32 from the field including 9-17 from deep while also dishing eight assists, grabbing five boards and making one steal. He was perfect (18-18) from the free-throw line.
This was Lillard’s third 60+ point game this season (and career), becoming the only player along Wilt Chamberlain to log three of those in the same season as well as the sixth to do it during a career.
He also became the first Blazer to log two straight 50+ point games as he banked 51 points against Philadelphia the game before.
“First of all, I’m just happy to be in that type of company. It’s an honor. Tonight couldn’t have been better timing for that type of game,” Lillard said on standing alongside Chamberlain in 60-point performances during one season.
The 30-year-old star has been stepping up for the Blazers with amazing performance throughout the whole season. He logged six 50+ point games while if we lower the bar, he had a total of ten 40+ point games.
And the timing of his last two huge games is perfect. Portland is now controlling the eighth seed in the West and it all depends on them to stay there. All they have to do is beat the Brooklyn Nets in two days (August 14, 03:00 CET).
“That’s the most important game of our lives. Tonight was great. We said we need one win. We’re going to focus on one game. We got this one done. And that’s the most important one. We got to finish it out right,” he said, looking toward the Nets game.