In one of the most exciting post-season shows ever, Damian Lillard He scored 55 points and an NBA record of 12 triples in the Portland Trail Blazers’ double-overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game Five on Tuesday night.
Lillard broke the record of 11 he set Klay Thompson In 2016 in Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lillard played 50 minutes and fired 17 of 24 shots from the field, including 12 of 17 from a 3-point range, but that wasn’t enough as the Nuggets stopped him in second overtime as he won 147-140 to take cable from the series 3-2.
“Damien Lillard was amazing tonight,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
The record of 3 with 3 minutes and 47 seconds came in double overtime when Lillard pounded the Nuggets with a series of deep steps back to keep the Blazers in the game. He hit one to equalize the score with 3.7 seconds of regulation time, which came after overturning a foul review on 3 that would have given Lillard three free throws. Another hit in the first overtime after 6.6 seconds Michael Porter Jr.. 6’10 feet to tie the score again and force the second overtime frame.
That one completed a nine-point comeback in the last two minutes, led by Lillard.
It was a great rebound for Lillard, who scored just 10 points on 1 of 10 shots in Game 4. But the Blazers defeated Denver in Game 4 with a solid defensive performance and a balanced touchdown.
In Game 5, Portland couldn’t find answers to the potential MVP Nikola Jokic, who finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, and a stronger performance on the bench led by Monte Morris (28 points and 5 assists).
The series returns to Portland Thursday for Game 6.