The top teams like LA Lakers, LA Clipper and Milwaukee Bucks are struggling for momentum since the NBA resumption. These teams have lacked in their offensive and haven’t been able to tick the right boxes. However, Portland Trail Blazers’ point guard Damian Lillard was on a roll against a potent team of Dallas Mavericks.
The Trail Blazers defeated the Dallas Mavericks by 134-131. Almost 50% of the points for Portland were scored by Damian Lillard as the 30-year-old scored 61 points to write his name in the history books.
Lillard’s amazing performance not only helped him get into the elite list of players but also kept the Trail Blazers hopes of qualifying for the playoff stages alive. This was the third time in the season when Lillard has scored more than 60 points in a match.
Furthermore, the point guard added five rebounds and eight assists to his tally as he had an all-round match, in which he had 41-minute gametime for his team.
Lillard has an average of 29.8 points in the ongoing season and has provided eight assists in every match of the season.
The NBA has thus far seen 19 players who have scored more than 60 points in a game on at least one occasion. Meanwhile, former NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain had scored 100 points for Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in 1962. The legendary player came up with 60+ point performance on 32 occasions.
Meanwhile, James Harden and Michael Jordan were able to achieve this on four occasions in their career. Former legend Kobe Bryant came up with 60+ points on six occasions. In fact, Jordan and Elgin Baylor are the only two players who could achieve the landmark in a playoff match.
Consequently, Damian Lillard will have his chance to match Jordan and Baylor’s feat if his team qualifies for the playoffs. The Portland Trail Blazers will next play the Brooklyn Nets on 14th August.
