Despite a series game loss, Lillard scores league history of 12 3pointers

 

Written by Donald Tolbert| SFL Journalist

During Tuesday night's playoff game, Damian Lillard broke Portland's playoff record and became the first player in league history to hit 12 3-pointers. The record-breaking performance was not enough to give Lillard the win in Game 5 over the Denver Nuggets.

As a result, the Nuggets took a 3-2 series lead Tuesday night, led by Monte Morris' 28 points and five assists off the bench, and Nikola Jokic's 38 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

A 3-pointer by Lillard with three seconds left in regulation tied the game at 121, sending it to overtime. Portland capped off its incredible comeback in double overtime with a 3-pointer by Lillard with 6.4 seconds left in the first overtime to tie it again at 135 and extend it to double overtime. Portland had been down 22 points late in the second quarter.

Portland's 17 points in overtime came from Damian Lillard, but a corner 3 pointer by CJ McCollum with 29 seconds left could have been the difference-maker. As McCollium stepped out of bounds in the closing seconds with the Blazers trailing by three, the Nuggets won.

In the post interview, Lilliard said, “It don’t matter. We lost the game,” Lillard said after the 147-140 double-overtime loss. “I mean, at this point, all that matters is we can’t lose another game in this series. We go out there and we play to win the game. That’s what it is.”

147-140 double-overtime loss