The Martin Luther King Jr. Day night cap last night in Portland between the Portland Trail Blazers and the visiting Golden State Warriors lacked the usual star power we had come accustomed to seeing over the last five years. What is usually a contest that features a litany of All-Star talent, last night's was void of such a showcase, save for one man.
Damian Lillard was that man.
When the NBA schedule makers pieced together the nationally televised games for this season, last night's battle at the Moda Center was supposed to be Curry vs Lillard, a clash of point guard titans. But with Curry's injury, CJ McCollum out, and the Warriors once again competing with their makeshift roster, the game needed a stand out. That's where Lillard comes in, the Blazers' all-world general, who, on a day when a country celebrates the historic accomplishments and greatness of one man, showed his basketball greatness to a nationwide audience.
Lillard was spectacular, erupting for a career-best 61 points in leading his team to a 129-124 victory. The Blazers, 18-26 and losers of two straight going into the game, needed the victory in the worst way, and Lillard made sure they got it. He was 17/37 from the field, hit all 16 of his free throw attempts, and his 11 three pointers were a franchise record, as were his 61. The 61 points were also a new career-high for the 29-year-old, surpassing his 60 he notched earlier this season against the Brooklyn Nets. The 61 points are the most ever scored on Martin Luther King Day, and Lillard became the first player in league history to score 60 or more points and hit 10 or more three pointers. He also joined an exclusive club, as just the sixth player in league history to have multiple 60-point games in one season, joining Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, and James Harden.
Facing a depleted Warrior team that played only 8 players - Jacob Evans was out due to a concussion, Glenn Robinson III due to an ankle sprain, and Draymond Green had the flu - Lillard battled with Warrior guard D'Angelo Russell (27 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds) for most of the contest, until Russell got cold late and Lillard remained en fuego. After keeping the Warriors in it late in the 4th quarter with a reverse layup and tough running three pointer, Russell struggled in the overtime period. Lillard, meanwhile, continued to amaze, hitting threes with ease, including his patented triple he loves from the right side. He put the team on his back Monday, as, after halftime, he accounted for 40 of his team's 76 points. Without his back court mate CJ McCollum, Lillard's 61 was needed, and then some.
Assisting Lillard in the effort was Hassan Whiteside, who controlled the paint and the glass with 6 blocked shots and 21 rebounds, along with his 17 points. Whiteside is leading the league in blocks with 3.0 per game.
For the Warriors, sharpshooter Alec Burks led them with 33 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. They also received a strong effort from Eric Paschall, who scored 22 on 11/21 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds. Willie Cauley-Stein, who scored 12 points and 7 rebounds and had 3 blocks, played well with his activity on the glass and did solid work in the pick and roll.
The Warriors, 2-10 in the last 12 games, have the Jazz up next on Wednesday, while the Trail Blazers host the Mavericks on Thursday.
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