Remember when people considered Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers to be perhaps the best point guard in the league?
It was a few years ago but Lillard really was seen as head-and-shoulders above nearly every other guard in the NBA.
On Monday night, he gave fans a flashback and was playing a game that was explosive and exciting in practically every way.
DAME did this in 3 quarters 🔥
38 Points
11 Threes (ties franchise record)
62% FG, 65% 3PT, 100% FT“I literally didn’t know how many 3s I had. I was just shooting.pic.twitter.com/ApB2Ovk7rW
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 13, 2022
Lillard scored 38 points and tied the Blazers’ franchise record of 11 three-pointers.
He was 62% from the field, 65% from the three, and 100% from the free-throw line.
Oh, and he did all of this in just three quarters.
That’s right, he didn’t even get off the bench in the final frame because he was so dominant in the three that came before.
Lillard was everywhere and unstoppable and was tying historic records.
And he didn’t even notice how red-hot he was, saying after the game, “I literally didn’t know how many threes I had. I was just shooting.”
Yes, he was shooting – and everything he shot turned to gold.
Dame Time Returns
The Blazers are the 6th team in the West right now with a 15-12 record.
But after Monday night, people are wondering just how high they can climb, especially if Lillard repeats himself with more performances like this regularly.
Lillard isn’t the only good player on the team – Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant have come into their own – but the team could truly become playoff contenders if Lillard keeps playing lights-out ball and the young teammates keep growing and thriving.
Lillard hasn’t played like this in a long time and Blazers fans were happy to see him in rare form.
And the team easily beat the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 133-112 win.
NEXT: The Trail Blazers Have An Impressive Rising Star