They are now eight to have scored at least 70 points in the same game in NBA history. Author of an extraordinary performance last night, Damian Lillard is one of them. With 71 points scored against the Houston Rockets (131-114 victory), the 32-year-old Portland Trail Blazers playmaker joins Elgyn Baylor (71), David Thompson (73), David Robinson (71), Devin Booker (70 ), Kobe Bryant (81) and Donovan Mitchell (71 in early January) at this point. Far, however, from Wilt Chamberlain, the only one to have reached the legendary 100 point mark and who has exceeded 70 units six times.
Lillard already had 41 points on his counter at halftime. Portland was then clearly ahead on the scoreboard, then Houston came back at the start of the fourth quarter, so the player gave a little boost with 21 points scored in the last twelve minutes.
In January, Donovan Mitchell had already reached that personal mark, but the Cleveland Cavaliers guard had spent 50 minutes and an overtime on the floor against the Chicago Bulls. Lillard, he needed only 39 minutes, with a success of 22 of 38 in shooting, including 13 of 22 three-pointers, only one length from the NBA record of Klay Thompson in this exercise from long distance.