By Tyler Keller, Director of Basketball Personnel
May 23, 2021



Damian Lillard had a double-double with 34 points and 13 assists, leading Portland over Denver in Game 1 despite MVP-favorite Nikola Jokic‘s high-scoring outing. Not only was Lillard scoring with ease like always, but he was passing the ball at a historic level as well. He averaged 7.5 assists on the season but erupted for 13 in Portland’s most important game of the year so far. 

Dame was facing double-teams throughout the night and used his passing abilities to rack up the most postseason AST by a Blazer in the 21st century. Those double-digit dimes were key in Portland getting an important Game 1 road win to take home-court advantage and carry that momentum throughout the rest of this series.

  • Lillard’s 13 AST are the most ever in a Blazers playoff game since Damon Stoudamire in 1999 (13)
  • Has as many GP (19) with 40+ PTS/5+ REB/5+ AST as all other Blazers players in history combined
 
Odds vs. DEN: POR -106 (Spread +1.5)

DAME’S ABILITY TO DISTRIBUTE MAKES PORTLAND’S OFFENSE LOOK AS UNSTOPPABLE AS EVER

COLORS KEY | FULL BLAZERS OUTLOOK 

Dame Time proved that even when scoring isn’t coming easy, he is still as effective as the best players in the league thanks to his ability to distribute. His 13 assists were a playoff career-high and are the most postseason AST by a Blazers player since Damon Stoudamire in 1999. Lillard’s scoring and assists directly contributed to 54% of the team’s points in their win on Saturday night. 

That doesn’t even take into account all the secondary assists that transpired when defenders were making their switches trying to cover the open man that all stemmed from Dame being such an offensive threat. Portland was able to go on many double-digit scoring runs, whether Dame was lighting it up himself or creating opportunities for his teammates after getting double-teams, proving that he can lead this offense in many ways as they are catching fire at the right time.

  • Dame from deep to cap a 8-0 run

 

  • Lillard’s full Game 1 highlights

 

  • Full Blazers-Nuggets game highlights

 

  • Dame Time’s best career highlights

 

 

 

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