The Portland Trail Blazers have had one of the greatest players of this generation on their team for over a decade and the player proved his status once again.
Damian Lillard went off against the Houston Rockets by scoring 71 points with 22 made shots on 57.8% efficiency. Lillard also hit a career-high 13 three-pointers in the performance to lead the Blazers to a dominant win.
Lillard also had the highest-scoring half of the season, scoring his first 41 points in the first half with just 19 minutes played. Fans are pedestalizing another legendary Lillard performance by recognizing the quiet greatness he’s shown his entire career in Portland.
DAMIAN LILLARD DROPS A CAREER-HIGH 71 POINTS ⌚ pic.twitter.com/TYcA1vxn9s
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 27, 2023
LeBron James tweeted out a watch emoji, signifying he noticed Dame Time take over the NBA tonight.
⌚️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 27, 2023
A fan couldn’t believe what he saw Lillard do, “I witnessed Dame Lillard drop the easiest 71 points in my life, insane sh*t.”
I witnessed Dame Lillard dropped the easiest 71 points in my life, insane shit. pic.twitter.com/AlLTs1lP0N
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) February 27, 2023
Reporter Shane Young pointed out that Lillard had the most efficient 70-point game in NBA history, “Damian Lillard just had the most efficient 70+ point game in NBA history. The previous record was Donovan Mitchell’s 78.9% True Shooting. Lillard tonight: 80.4% True Shooting.”
Damian Lillard just had the most efficient 70+ point game in NBA history.
Previous record was Donovan Mitchell's 78.9% True Shooting.
Lillard tonight: 80.4% True Shooting
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) February 27, 2023
A Houston Rockets fan was more upset about the coaching decision that plagued the Rockets tonight, “Damian Lillard just dropped 71 points on us and Stephen Silas countered by having Daishen Nix play 30+ minutes and lead the team with 19 shot attempts. Fire this young gentleman into the sun. Expeditiously.”
Damian Lillard just dropped 71 points on us and Stephen Silas countered by having Daishen Nix play 30+ minutes and lead the team with 19 shot attempts.
Fire this young gentleman into the sun. Expeditiously. pic.twitter.com/mtZF6keOJP
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) February 27, 2023
NBA legend Detlef Schrempf had a close eye on the performance, “Holy cow.”
Holy cow @Dame_Lillard
— Detlef Schrempf (@Dschrempf) February 27, 2023
Stand-up comedian and Blazers fan Ian Karmel was full of praise for Dame, “I will never forget how it feels to watch @Dame_Lillard play for my favorite team.”
I will never forget how it feels to watch @Dame_Lillard play for my favorite team.
— ian karmel (@IanKarmel) February 27, 2023
Basketball Reference pointed out the historic domination of the all-time Blazers scoring charts by Lillard, “Most points in a game in @Trailblazers history: 71 – Damian Lillard 61 – Damian Lillard 61 – Damian Lillard 60 – Damian Lillard 60 – Damian Lillard 59 – Damian Lillard.”
Most points in a game in @Trailblazers history:
71 – Damian Lillard
61 – Damian Lillard
61 – Damian Lillard
60 – Damian Lillard
60 – Damian Lillard
59 – Damian Lillard#NBA | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/IOaK4xG1yy
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) February 27, 2023
FanDuel pointed out how everyone thought Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point game from earlier this season wouldn’t be equaled, “Nobody is gonna score as much as Donovan Mitchell’s 71 points this season.” Damian Lillard.”
"Nobody is gonna score as much as Donovan Mitchell's 71 points this season."
Damian Lillard: pic.twitter.com/24Svw8p2gn
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 27, 2023
With this performance, Lillard joins Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor, Donovan Mitchell, and Devin Booker as the only players in NBA history to break the 70-point barrier.
Another Historic Individual Season Amidst Team Struggles?
The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t been good this season despite showing a lot of promise at times. They regained the 11th seed from the Lakers with this win and are half a game ahead of the LA-based franchise, They’re still battling into the play-in picture with a decidedly average roster, despite additions like Jerami Grant this season.
Cam Reddish and Matisse Thybulle have been solid additions so far but not the needle-movers Portland needed. The Blazers are on the outside of the post-season looking in and it seems Lillard’s historic season will be buried under the larger headline of his team missing the playoffs and him being content with not leaving.
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