Portland, Ore — no offense to Utah JazzBut Damien Lillard He said scoring 60 against them was fairly simple. Not easy, just simple.
Lillard scored a season-high 60 points, hitting nine three-pointers, and a Portland Trail Blazers Beat the Jazz 134-124 on Wednesday night.
Tied Lillard for the second most points in the NBA this season. Donovan Mitchell He had 71 in Cleveland’s overtime game against Chicago on January 3, and Luka Doncic He scored 60 in Dallas’ win over New York on December 27.
Lillard said: “I think any time you score 60 it’s special, but I think that point I felt was very simple. I thought I played the game like it should. I knew we needed to win so I went out with an attacking mentality and being aggressive, But it wasn’t like I just came out on fire. It wasn’t one of those matches.”
Straw Grant He added 19 points to help Portland win its second straight game.
Laurie Markkanen He led the Jazz with 24 points. He had a layup followed by a tipping layup with 5:20 left that brought Utah to 115-108.
Grant W Anaferni Simmons He had back-to-back dunks to put Portland up 121-110 and the Blazers comfortably led the rest of the way.
When Lillard reached the free-throw line late in the game, the home crowd stood up and chanted “MVP!” his career.
He didn’t even realize he was close to his career until Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told him after those free throws. Lillard thought he would come out.
“The next time I went down they double-teamed me and I just popped in for a quick three and then they went down and scored,” Lillard said. Hungry to come back with this much time in the game just to get to a high level.”
Lillard has had four career games of 60 or more points. He reached 61 twice.
Jazz coach Will Harvey was asked what Utah could have done to stop Lillard after making him up twice for most of the game.
“I think in theory we could have sent three people to him,” Harvey quipped.
After a drawn-out January struggle, the Blazers were coming off a morale 147-127 victory over San Antonio on Monday.
Lillard finished 21 of 29 from the field, 9 of 15 in 3s and 9 of 10 on the line. He also had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
During the third quarter, Lillard scored 20 consecutive Portland points.
“You’re just kind of just sitting back and having fun,” fellow Blazers said Little Nasser He said of watching Lillard hit 60. “I marveled at his greatness.”
INS hint
Jazz: The quick trip to Portland was in the midst of two hometowns of jazz. They played three games in Utah before the game, then returned for five games at home. … Markkanen has made 3-pointers in 37 consecutive games, the most for an NBA 7-footer.
Trail Blazers: This was the fourth of six home games for the Blazers. … Portland was injured in the first half when they started Josh Hart He left with a hamstring injury and has not returned. Joseph Nurkic He left the game in the third quarter with left calf soreness and did not return. … Lillard has moved into sixth place on the league’s all-time 3-pointers list, passing Vince Carter.
A rare feature
Lillard is among only five players in the NBA with four or more 60-point games. Wilt Chamberlain He leads the list with 32, followed by Kobe Bryant with six. lillard, James Harden and Michael Jordan have four.
“I don’t catch Wilt,” Lillard laughed.
next one
Jazz: Host Dallas Saturday Night.
Trail Blazers: Host the Raptors on Saturday night.
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