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Damian Lillard (Reuters)
5 minutes and 56 seconds into the game tonight in Portland tonight (Tuesday through Wednesday), Eric Baldesso raised New Orleans to 100-117. In a normal world, this is a complete game. In a world that Damien Lillard is a part of, this is just the beginning. In less than 6 minutes Lillard sniped, handed out assists and led an incredible run that ended with his points from the second line to the finish and a 124: 125 victory.
Lillard finished the game with 50 points and 10 assists. He clung to LeBron James in seventh place on the list of players who scored 50 points or more per game (with 12 such games) and also rose to second place on the list of players who record a double-double of points and assists with 50 points. Teammate Joseph Norkich tweeted what many think: Shillard is definitely a legitimate candidate for the MVP title this season.
If the show was not enough, then at the end of the game Lillard provided an interview for the Pantheon in which he referred to the beginning of his hard path and his work ethic: “All these things would not have been possible without the hard work. I was not one of the players marked in middle school, high school or college. I had to do my work behind the scenes, earn my way. I did not always know that I would get the credit for it, that I would get the results, so I know what it is to be unfamiliar, that the lights are not on you, to want to be seen, to want a scholarship to a great school and things like that. I was behind the scenes and did the work. I do not forget these steps I had to take to get here.
“So even though I have a family and all the commercials and sponsors, I do not forget the things that make it all possible – work, discipline, modesty, compassion. All these things that I bring as a person, I know that is why I was able to achieve a lot of the things I achieved. If I stop doing what I did to get here, I will do very bad service to my family and all the people around me. So I stay true to it and the more I do it, things keep coming. I have achieved results like this all my life, why should I see the results I have achieved and stop doing it? I became stronger from these things I was more disciplined, I worked harder, smarter, I do all these things at a higher level and it continues to improve all these things for me ”.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, LeBron James provided a second triple-double in a row with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 121: 137 win over Minnesota. It was the 99th triple-double of LeBron’s career in league history) and made him the oldest player with two triple-doubles in a row.
LeBron, who has heard quite a few skeptics before the start of the season raising questions about his ability to restore the ability that led the Lakers to the championship last season in light of the fact that he is already 36, tweeted an appropriate response after the game.
