Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard had one of his most exhilarating performances Monday night, and he became a part of history in the process.
Lillard scored a career-high 61 points to lead the Trail Blazers to a 129-124 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors. Per ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Lillard is the third player to have a 60-point game against the Warriors, with the other two being Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain.
As a guard with deep shooting range, Lillard added to his performance by making a career-high 11 3-pointers. For Lillard to be in company with two of the game’s best players, it shows how talented of a scorer he is. This season Lillard is averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game and shooting a career-high 44.6% from the field.
The most individual points ever scored against the Warriors:
1. Elgin Baylor, 63 points in 1961
2. Wilt Chamberlain, 62 points in 1966
3. Damian Lillard, 61 points in 2020@ESPNStatsInfo (Only three 60-point games against Golden State)— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) January 21, 2020
What makes Lillard special is that few players can heat up like he can, especially when it’s late in the game.
His dribble moves and ability to create space help him launch the most difficult of shots. Lillard scored 12 points in the fourth quarter against the Warriors, and he scored seven in overtime. This season Lillard ranks 11th in fourth quarter points (6.9).
