LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Fifty-one thoughts for 51 points by Damian Lillard on a pivotal day for the NBA in Disney bubble and championship history, indeed, with the guarantee now of his first play-in game.
1. The ball left Damian Lillard’s hot hand and headed for its usual spot in the center of the net. Josh Richardson’s body collided with Dame’s, for a foul, which meant a four-point play was possible. The triple was already enough to take the Blazers ahead of the 76ers, 116-114, with 2:53 left. It was then, after the ball had exploded and the whistle had gone off, that Lillard had pumped his fist and looked sideways at the video card, with a certain facial expression.
2. “I just looked up there like,” OK, now let’s get away from them, close the game and stop messing with our season, “Lillard said.
3. It took a truly breathtaking performance of Lillard Sunday to keep the …
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