Damian Lillard drops 43 points, 16 dimes as Portland prevails past Pelicans
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard scored 43 points (14-of-28 field goals, 8-of-8 free throws) with 4 rebounds, 16 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 7 3-pointers, and 4 turnovers in 37.9 minutes of a 126-124 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
Lillard matched his career-high in assists and finished a point shy of his high-water mark for the season. He's scored over 30 points and double-doubled in three straight games while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 41.4 percent on 3-pointers in that stretch. The Trail Blazers will have a couple days off before facing the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Lillard scored 32 points with 8 assists on the second leg of a back-to-back when the two teams met at the beginning of February.
Lillard finished with a season-high 73.8 FanDuel points on Wednesday, second-most among all players on the 10-game slate. He is averaging 6.2 additional FanDuel points per game when C.J. McCollum (foot) out. Lillard will draw a Wizards team on Saturday that is allowing the fourth-most FanDuel points per game to the point guard position this season.
- Trae Young (ankle) won't return for Hawks on Wednesday April 21st, 2021
- Maxi Kleber (back) ruled out for remainder of Wednesday's game April 21st, 2021
- Maxi Kleber (back) questionable to return for Dallas Wednesday April 21st, 2021
- Taj Gibson (laceration) doubtful to return for Knicks Wednesday April 21st, 2021
- Desmond Bane coming off Grizzlies' bench Wednesday April 21st, 2021
- Dillon Brooks (thigh) starting for Memphis Wednesday; Desmond Bane back to bench April 21st, 2021
- Enes Kanter coming off Blazers' bench on Wednesday April 21st, 2021
- Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic starting at center Wednesday over Enes Kanter April 21st, 2021
- Damian Lillard back in Trail Blazers' lineup April 21st, 2021
- Derrick Jones Jr. (hip) ruled out for Blazers Wednesday April 21st, 2021
- Damian Lillard (hamstring) officially cleared Wednesday for Trail Blazers April 21st, 2021
- Damian Lillard (hamstring) reportedly expects to play for Trail Blazers Wednesday April 21st, 2021