Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard had a stellar night on Sunday, scoring 71 points in a 131-114 win over the Houston Rockets.
• Also read: Raptors: No VanVleet, no problem
• Also read: A 351 point game in the NBA!
In doing so, he equalized the NBA’s best performance of the season: Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker Donovan Mitchell had done the same thing on January 2 against the Chicago Bulls. Lillard became the eighth player in history to score 70 or more points in an NBA game.
The color bearer of the Oregon formation only got 41 points in the first half of the season. He also had 13 three-pointers on 22 attempts. However, the 32-year-old athlete is a regular at such feats, having amassed at least 60 career points in five games. Only the great Wilt Chamberlain at 32 and the late Kobe Bryant (six) fared better. He has also reached the 50-point plateau fifteen times.
“I think every man enjoys those moments, especially when he’s on fire, feeling ready and in good shape. However, I have more trouble with everything that follows this type of match, such as the moment I left the court.
Perhaps this lack of enthusiasm has something to do with the fact that the league imposed the anti-doping test on him shortly after his brilliant performance. “I know I have several armadillos with me, but when you donate blood it’s a little different than with armadillos. It brought me down to earth a bit,” he admitted.
Far off
Those wondering if the Blazers star could have reached the all-time mark for most points in a game should think twice. Chamberlain’s 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962 while wearing the Philadelphia Warriors jersey seems unattainable. He also had a night of 78 points and two more 73s and a 72.
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored 81 points with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Toronto Raptors.