Lillard erupts for 71 points in Blazers win

(UPDATE) LOS ANGELES: Damian Lillard erupted for a career-high 71 points as the Portland Trail Blazers thrashed the Houston Rockets on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

In a breathtaking performance in front of a rapturous Portland crowd, Lillard etched his name into NBA folklore to drive the Blazers to a 131-114 victory.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard hits a basket during an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. AP PHOTO

It was the first time in Lillard's glittering career that he has scored more than 70 points in a game, and the second time this season he has breached the 60-point barrier.

Only three other players in NBA history — Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and David Thompson — have scored more points in a single game.

Chamberlain holds the record with 100 points, followed by Bryant's mark of 81. Thompson scored 73 points for Denver against Detroit in 1978.

Lillard also threatened to beat Klay Thompson's record of 14 three-pointers in a single game.

In the end, however, the 32-year-old seven-time NBA All-Star fell just short, draining 13 threes from 22 attempts.

Overall, Lillard made 22 of 38 from the field, including a perfect 14 of 14 from the free-throw line.

As the final buzzer sounded at Portland's Moda Center, Lillard was mobbed by teammates and showered with confetti in recognition of a superb performance that eclipsed his previous best single-game scoring performance of 61 points.

Afterwards, Lillard said he had simply been motivated by securing victory for Portland.

The Blazers are just outside of the play-in places with a 29-31 record in the Western Conference.

“I think we've got 22 or 23 games after this and we need to win as many as possible,” Lillard said.