USA Today via Reuters
Mar 16, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) prepares to shoot a free throw during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 16, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) prepares to shoot a free throw during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
The Nuggets took their sweet revenge from Game 1 loss against the Blazers in style. They nailed every single quarter and ensured an easy 128-109 victory over the Rip City. However, Damian Lillard still shined in their otherwise forgetful night as he dropped a series of bombers over the Denver mountains.
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With the Blazers’ defense in a constant rotation, Terry Stotts failed to reestablish his strategy from the last game. As a result, apart from a flourishing Dame time, everything else collapsed like a pack of cards.
Blazers’ Damian Lillard with a rare playoff record to his name
By halftime, the Big Game Dame had 32 points, the most in the game, to his name. Not just that, he had dropped 8/11 threes before Q3 began, making him the only player after Raptors’ Vince Carter to achieve those numbers. In fact, this was his career’s second playoff game with 30+ points first half, making him the only player to do so in 15 years. Now, it is worth noting that even LeBron James could not match such numbers in the 14 postseason series that he has played in the last 15 years.
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Damian Lillard has his second 30-point first half of his playoff career. He is the only player with multiple 30-point first halves in the playoffs over the last 15 seasons.
He has 8 3-pt FG so far, tied for the most in a half in NBA postseason history. pic.twitter.com/dHS3b6KagF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 25, 2021
While achieving those three-point numbers, Dame scored one from the Denver logo, 37-ft away from the rim. By the time the game ended, the All-Star point guard had nine threes, leaving him two short of matching Klay Thompson’s 2016 record.
Read more – Blazers’ Damian Lillard Ties with LeBron James for a Unique Record Owned By Lakers’ Kobe Bryant
How did the Nuggets manage such a big victory?
The Nuggets were so effective today that they started Q4 with their reserves while forcing the Blazers to use all their starting five. They had six players scoring in double figures, led by Nikola Jokic. The top contender for MVP, Joker, scored 38 points at a crazy field accuracy of 75%. Also, they enjoyed a smothering defense with the players like Michael Porter Jr, Facundo Campazzo, and Monte Morris staying productive from both ends.
For the Blazers, their star defender in center Jusuf Nurkic did not seem as efficient and a poor show from Carmelo Anthony added to the woes. Lillard’s 42-point double-double did not seem helpful as they endured seven turnovers too many.
Damian Lillard or Nikola Jokic, Who was your favorite individual performer from today’s game? Help us know in the comments.
