‘Isn’t human’: Lillard enters NBA immortality with 71-pt MADNESS including best-since-Kobe feat

There’s Dame Time, after which there’s Dame Time in daring and italics.

This was the latter.

Portland celebrity Damian Lillard put up 41 factors within the opening half towards Houston on Monday (AEDT) and completed with 71, gorgeous the NBA world.

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He grew to become the seventh participant in NBA historical past to attain 70-plus factors, becoming a member of Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, Donovan Mitchell and Elgin Baylor.

Mitchell scored precisely 71 factors as properly for the Cavaliers earlier this 12 months.

Lillard went 13 of 19 taking pictures within the first half with eight threes, matching the best halftime rating of any participant since Kobe Bryant’s 42 on March 28, 2003.

He completed going 22 of 38 taking pictures together with 13 of twenty-two from three-point vary and 14 of 14 on free throws, plus six rebounds and 6 assists.

It was essentially the most scored by any Trail Blazer in a recreation, and essentially the most factors given as much as one participant by Houston ever.

“Best player in the NBA right now,” one of many commentators proclaimed.

No different participant within the recreation scored greater than 17 factors.

Portland received 131-114.