Postgame Notes – March 16, 2021
Portland 125, New Orleans 124
Game No. 39, Home Game No. 19
TEAM
• The Trail Blazers shot 31-of-31 (100%) from the FT line, while the Pelicans were 16-of-20 (80.0%). It marked a franchise record for Portland for the most free throws made in a game without a miss.
• After trailing by 17 with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers closed the game on a 27-9 run.
• The Trail Blazers are now the only team in the NBA to make 20 or more free-throws while being perfect from the line in multiple games this season (23-of-23 at WAS on Feb. 2). They have now shot 100% from the FT line a league-leading five times this season.
• Portland recorded 18 made threes, while New Orleans made 16. The Trail Blazers have made 18 or more three-pointers 14 times this season, the second-most in the NBA (Utah, 16). Portland now has made at least 10 three-pointers in 52 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in NBA history.
• New Orleans recorded 38 assists to Portland’s 20. The Pelicans have recorded a combined 76 assists over their last two games, a franchise best (previous record was 73, April 7- April 9, 2018).
PLAYER
• Damian Lillard led Portland with a season-high 50 points (13-20 FG, 6-13 3-PT, 18-18 FT), six rebounds and 10 assists. His 18 made free-throws tied his own franchise-record for makes without a miss.
• Damian Lillard recorded his 12th career game with 50-plus points, tied with LeBron James for seventh-most all-time. He is the fourth player to record three or more career games with at least 50 points and 10 assists (Archibald, Westbrook, Harden).
• Lillard is the fourth player in NBA history to record at least 16,000 points and 4,000 assists over the first nine seasons of his career (Bird, Robertson, James).
• Gary Trent Jr. finished with 22 points (6-10 FG, 3-7 3-PT, 7-7 FT), three rebounds, one assist and two steals. It was his second consecutive game with at least 20 points, and ninth such game for the season
• Robert Covington recorded nine points (3-8 FG, 3-7 3-PT), five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
• Enes Kanter had 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, one steal and two blocks.
• Carmelo Anthony finished with nine points (4-10 FG, 1-3 3-PT), four rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in 30 minutes off the bench.
• Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points (10-22 FG, 3-9 3-PT, 7-10 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal. It was his eighth game with 30 or more points this season.
• Zion Williamson added 28 points (11-17 FG, 6-6 FT), five rebounds, eight assists and one steal in 33 minutes. It was his 18th consecutive game with at least 20 points.