Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard Describes 71-Point Performance vs. Rockets As Art
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard described his performance against the Houston Rockets as "art."
"If 100 people watched this game, they might have 100 different feelings and reactions," Lillard said. "It could mean so many things to so many different people. And I think art is similar to that.
"People always tell me that I have to get into art. I'll be looking at a piece and be like, 'I don't know what that is and why it's so expensive?' And I am sure people would look at basketball and say the same thing. A game like this could be seen the same way."
Lillard led the Trail Blazers to a 131-114 victory over the Rockets, who dropped their ninth consecutive game Sunday night inside the Moda Center.
Lillard scored a career-best 71 points on 22-of-38 shooting, 13-of-22 from behind the arc. He scored 41 points (13-19 FG, 8-11 3PT) by halftime.
He said the Rockets played him in different defensive coverages throughout the night, but his mind was to keep attacking. Lillard was super aggressive during the first half and credited the Rockets' full-court press for his mollified play during the third quarter.
Houston was successful at getting the ball out of Lillard's hands during the third period, which coincided with coach Stephen Silas' review of how the Rockets tried to contain the star point guard. But Houston's defensive tactics during the third period allowed Lillard to get his teammates more involved.
Lillard's playmaking forced the Rockets to divert back to their normal coverages. Houston's decision led to Lillard erupting for 23 fourth quarter points.
"I wasn't playing like 'I'm going to get 70 tonight,' I was playing to keep the lead," Lillard said. "As soon as they went back to their normal coverages — I played in between. I would give it up. And then there were times I would attack the double-team.
"Once I got passed the double-team, we would be playing with a bigger advantage because they had people out near half-court. I accepted the double, and that allowed me to keep going."
His historic performance put him in a pair of uncomfortable situations after the game. Lillard said he did not want the attention that came with joining the 70-point club, but the random post-game drug test was more excruciating due to his displeasure with needles.
Lillard's masterpiece against the Rockets will have an eternal spot in the NBA's art gallery.
His 71-point explosion tied the record for the eighth-most points scored in league history. Lillard scored the most points by a player 32 years or older. He set the Trail Blazers' franchise record for most points in a game. And set a Rockets' franchise record for the most points scored by an opponent.
"A night like tonight, there's really not much you can do," coach Chauncey Billups said. "I don't want to be on the other side of that. I've been in games this year myself where I've tried everything that we had defensively, and sometimes, nothing works. I don't want to be on the other side of that. But it was fun to be on this side."
You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24
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