PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard set a franchise record with 61 points, including a career-best 11 3-pointers, and the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the equally depleted Golden State Warriors 129-124 in overtime Monday night.
Lillard’s previous career high was 60 points earlier this season against Brooklyn. He now has the two highest scoring marks in NBA history by a player 6-foot-2 or shorter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
It was the seventh regular-season game of Lillard’s career with more than 50 points. He also had 10 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season.
Hassan Whiteside added 17 points and 21 rebounds for the Blazers, who snapped a two-game skid.
The Blazers trailed by 12 in the third quarter but clawed back in the fourth. Lillard’s layup and free throw gave Portland a 110-109 lead with 2:26 left, but rookie Eric Paschall dunked to give the lead back to Golden State with less than a minute to go.
Alec Burks added a pair of free throws for the Warriors to extend the lead, but Lillard made a 3 tied it with 14.9 seconds left, and the game went to overtime.
Willie Cauley-Stein’s dunk put the Warriors up 121-115 in the extra period. Anfernee Simons hit a 3 to pull Portland closer before Lillard’s 3-pointer with less than a minute left tied it. Gary Trent Jr.’s layup gave Portland the lead with 34.6 seconds to go.
Burks’ 3-pointer briefly gave the Warriors back the lead, but Lillard and Whiteside each added a pair of free throws to seal it. The crowd stood and cheered as Lillard made the free throw that gave him the record.
Both teams were drastically limited, personnel-wise.
The Warriors, hit hard by injuries this season, essentially had eight available players. Draymond Green suited up but coach Steve Kerr said before the game that it was unlikely Green would play because he wasn’t felling well.
Glenn Robinson III remained out because of an an ankle injury. Kerr said he hoped to have Kevon Looney (abdominal soreness) back later this week. The Warriors started D’Angelo Russell, Damion Lee, Burks, Cauley-Stein and Paschall for the second straight game.
The Blazers, who had just nine players available, were without CJ McCollum for the second straight game because of a sprained left ankle. Simons started in his place.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Credit: Source link