Damian Lillard dropped 61 points against the Mavericks in a game thriller 134–131 and broke multiple records
Damian Lillard tied a career-high with 61 points (17/32 FG, 9/17 3-PT, 18/18 FT, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal) and led the Portland Trail Blazers to a victory 134–131 over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. With this win, Blazers moved in the eighth place of the Western Conference.
“Ain’t nothing I want more,” Lillard said of the playoffs. “When I came here (to Disney World) I told them I’m not here to waste my time. Our work ain’t done yet but we’re fighting for it.”
There is one game left on the schedule for the Blazers and it’s the one that will be conducted on Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets. If they win, they will clinch a spot that will get them involved in a series with one of the following teams: Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies are tied and the San Antonio Spurs are right behind them. The last game will be the decisive one.
“We have to come out with the same mentality,” Lillard said about the game against the Nets. “We control our own destiny. That’s the most important game of our lives.”
“He’s showing a lot of resolve,” Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said of his superstar’s passion and incentive from day one — Lillard had said publicly that if the NBA would come out with a format that will allow teams to play some ‘’ meaningful games’’ that would give them some hope for a potential playoff run then he would be willing to play and here we are looking at a team that came ready to claim the last ticket available. “Nobody wanted to come into this bubble and make the playoffs more than Dame. We have one more game to go, but his leadership and his game speak for itself. But he’s bringing the team along with him.”
Carmelo Anthony had 26 points (10/17 FG, 3/5 3-PT, 3/4 FT) eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Zach Collins had 11 points and eight rebounds and Gary Trent Jr. had 11 points and two steals coming off the bench.
Kristaps Porzingis led the Mavericks with 36 points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the game and Luka Doncic had 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
“Damian played incredible,” Porzingis said. “Made some unbelievable shots. Hats off to him.”
Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle on Damian Lillard’s 61-point performance that left him flabbergasted: “Coming into the game, we said he’s going to shoot 15 3s somehow. He got up 17. The problem was that he kept getting to the free-throw line. I haven’t looked at the film yet as far as whether the calls were accurate or whatever, but great players have a knack for getting the whistle to blow. Luka’s the same way; he gets the whistle to blow. In the end, we were unable to keep him off the free-throw line. When you let a guy who shoots like that shoot 18 free throws and score 18 points with the clock stopped, you’re putting yourself up against it. But he’s a great player and puts you in some tough spots, no question about it.”
Here are the records that Lillard broke last night:
1. Damian Lillard is the fifth player in NBA history to score 50+ points in one game (51 points on Sunday against the 76ers) and follow it up with 60+ points in his next game:
- Wilt Chamberlain (multiple times)
- Michael Jordan (Apr. 1987)
- Kobe Bryant (Mar. 2007)
- James Harden (Mar. 2019)
- Damian Lillard (Aug. 2020)
2. Dame is also the first Blazer and 12th player in NBA history with back-to-back 50-point games:
- Bradley Beal
- James Harden
- Devin Booker
- Kobe Bryant
- Allen Iverson
- Antawn Jamison
- Michael Jordan
- Bernard King
- Rick Barry
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Elgin Baylor
- Damian Lillard
3. Damian Lillard has scored 112 points over his last two games. The only players in NBA history to score more points over a two-game span are Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and James Harden.
4. Most 60-point games in NBA history by a player with a listed height of 6'2" or shorter:
3 — Damian Lillard
2 — all others combined
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