When the Golden State Warriors are playing and a point guard scores 51 points while hitting nine-of-12 3-pointers in just 31 minutes, you assume that player’s name is Stephen Curry.
Not so on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, as Damian Lillard did his best impression of the reigning MVP on his way to a career night and handing the Warriors their fifth loss of the season with a 137-105 blowout victory. Portland has been on fire of late winning nine of their last 10, including the last four games.
Lillard shot 18-of-28 from the field for 51 points to go with seven assists, six steals and zero turnovers. He joined Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan and Rick Barry as the only players in NBA history to have at least 50 points, five assists and five steals in a single game, according to The Elias. He’s also proving himself to be a puzzle for the Warriors, averaging 45.5 points and 8.5 assists against them in two games this season.
He wasn’t thrilled about being snubbed for the All-Star game this season and this game showed that he had plenty of reason to feel slighted. Told of what folks at NBATV were saying about him after this game, Lillard reacted rather coldly:
I don’t care what they see https://t.co/zhDhzAsvot
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) February 20, 2016
Others around the league saw his monster performance and reacted as below:
Man ESPN only showed 3 of Dame Lillards 51 points against the Warriors. They wrong for that!
— Trevor Booker (@35_Fitz) February 20, 2016
My reaction to Dame’s 51 point game tonight.. Captions please #SnubThat #RipCity https://t.co/aTey9SuW7r
— Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard11) February 20, 2016
When your boy putting 50 on they head!! Great way to start the second half #snubthat #ripcity https://t.co/FTQQs6hlY6
— Maurice Harkless (@moe_harkless) February 20, 2016
Great team win tonight coming out of break . . 50 piece McNugget with BBQ sauce on the side ???? ???? #RipCity https://t.co/qoV2pIDyED
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) February 20, 2016
That wasn’t #dubs basketball we will be better tomorrow tho #dubnation #backtobacklife
— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) February 20, 2016
Sheesh @Dame_Lillard
— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) February 20, 2016
LillyPad out there gettin it in.
— Dorell Wright (@DWRIGHTWAY1) February 20, 2016
Jim Park is a blogger and Tweet of the Night author of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.