Can we get the LA Clippers to provoke Damian Lillard more often?
The Portland Trail Blazers, fighting for their postseason lives, are in desperation mode as they seek the Western Conference's final playoff spot with the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs. Following the Blazers confrontational loss to the Clippers on Saturday, Lillard lit up the Philadelphia 76ers for 51 points in a 124-121 win, keeping Portland's postseason possibilities alive.
Clearly, Lillard wasn't done.
The Dallas Mavericks got caught up in Dame Time as the five-time All-Star eclipsed Sunday's effort with a record-setting 61-point performance in the Blazers 134-131 win. The biggest highlight came with 1 minute, 29 seconds left as Lillard launched a 33-footer with the ball bouncing straight up off the back rim above the backboard and subsequently falling through the hoop.
In the aftermath, Lillard joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to accumulate three 60-point games in a season. Moreover, Lillard's 112 points in his past two games is the sixth most in the past 50 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.
As the final horn sounded, Lillard had a Birdman-esque request for his critics.
🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 pic.twitter.com/cqYq6N1z7x
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) August 12, 2020
More importantly for the Blazers, they've now moved past the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the West.
The NBA world reacted in kind to Lillard's brilliant performance, as stars such as Dwyane Wade, Zach LaVine and DeMarcus Cousins all chimed in on Twitter to share their thoughts.
Man @Dame_Lillard is DIFFERENT!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 12, 2020
dame man....
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin23) August 12, 2020
"PUT SOME RESPECT ON MY F****** NAME"
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) August 12, 2020
- @Dame_Lillard
Dame is on another level man...sheesh!!!!
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) August 12, 2020
Dame going crazy
— TJ Warren (@TonyWarrenJr) August 12, 2020
Dame that 💩 was different bruh...
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 12, 2020
After the Trail Blazers got to the locker room to decompress from the Dame D.O.L.L.A. experience, past and present teammates like Jusuf Nurkic, Meyers Leonard and Jake Layman heaped praise upon praise on their superstar point guard.
Babo @Dame_Lillard🔥🔥 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/4QjlxO1O8J
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) August 12, 2020
It's hard to #StayMelo on this ona bra @Dame_Lillard sorry, not sorry 🤐
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) August 12, 2020
Dame Time 🤯
— Jake Layman (@JLayman10) August 12, 2020
Holy moly dear lord almighty Dame with 61 and the dub 🤭🔥🔥🔥
— Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard) August 12, 2020
MORE: NBA campus intel - Suns stay unbeaten, Lillard's 61 lifts Blazers into 8th
