Blazers waste Damian Lillard’s latest historic NBA playoff performance in loss to Nuggets

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Damian Lillard positioned on every other all-time playoff performance.

It composed wasn’t ample for the Portland Path Blazers.

Lillard poured in a playoff career-high 55 points Tuesday in an otherworldly shooting uncover, nonetheless the Denver Nuggets prevailed 147-140 in a double past frequent time thriller to take a 3-2 lead in their first-spherical sequence. MVP authorized Nikola Jokic had 38 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Nuggets, who can conclude out the sequence in Sport 6 on Thursday in Portland.

Lillard turned into the essential person of the night despite the loss. He shot 17-of-24 from the discipline overall, including an NBA playoff-file 12 3-pointers, in 52 minutes. He additionally added 10 assists for the first 55-point, 10-serve game in postseason history.

“It set up no longer topic, we lost the game,” Lillard said. “At this point, all that matters is that we can’t lose every other game in the sequence.”

Denver led by as many as 22 in the first half, nonetheless Lillard helped Portland rally to within three by the spoil. He hit stout shot after stout shot to maintain the Blazers in the game down the stretch. His step-lend a hand, 28-foot 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left in law tied the game at 121 and despatched it to past frequent time. Lillard then scored 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the extra sessions. His 12th 3 build the Blazers up 140-138 with 3: 47 left in the second OT. On the change hand, Lillard turned into shut out the remainder of the means as the Nuggets did all they would possibly perhaps maybe perhaps to force the ball out of his hands.

“It turned into essentially the most uncomplicated playoff performance I’ve ever considered,” said Portland coach Terry Stotts. “He gave it his all. He made barely about a photographs.

“We’re all disappointed. I in actuality gain empathy for Dame. I in actuality gain empathy for anybody on our team. However now’s no longer the time for empathy. Now is the time to regroup and come in lend a hand and accept Sport 6. We can’t in actuality feel sorry for ourselves.”

The rest of the Blazers scored correct two points on 1-of-14 shooting in the two overtimes.

“It be a shame we wasted one in all the all-time simplest performances by no longer being extra supportive of him,” said C.J. McCollum, who had 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting.

It turned into the latest sage performance for Lillard, who has hit about a of essentially the most memorable photographs in NBA playoff history, including two sequence-winning buzzer-beaters. He despatched the Houston Rockets home in Sport 6 of the 2014 playoffs. He then famously waved the Oklahoma Metropolis Teach off the bottom after knocking down a 35-footer in Paul George’s face in 2019.

“It turned into a tough loss, man,” Lillard said. “It be finish or die now. We gotta win both of the following two games if we desire our season to continue. It be as uncomplicated as that.”

Philosophize of the sequence: Nuggets lead 3-2. Sport 6 is Thursday in Portland (8 p.m. ET, TNT).

Nets 123, Celtics 109

Brooklyn took care of business and finished off Boston in Sport 5 to space up the stout second-spherical sequence against Milwaukee that each person circled as soon as the playoff bracket turned into finalized. A game after matching an NBA playoff file for points by a trio with 104, James Harden (34), Kyrie Irving (25) and Kevin Durant (24) were correct too distinguished for the Celtics again and combined for 83 points. Harden added 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the first 30-point triple-double in Nets playoff history. Brooklyn’s true take a look at now begins as the playoff stress ramps up. The Bucks will pose a daring scenario, with a Mountainous 3 of their bear in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.

Philosophize of the sequence: Nets win 4-1.

Suns 115, Lakers 85

The upstart Suns gain the defending champs on the ropes after a Sport 5 rout that uncovered some serious vulnerabilities for the Lakers. Anthony Davis omitted the game with a strained groin, and his absence derailed things for Los Angeles. LeBron James had 24 points and seven assists, nonetheless he did no longer dominate the means the Lakers wanted him to without Davis. Devin Booker scored 30 points for the Suns, including 22 in the first half as Phoenix build the game away early. Chris Paul aggravated an correct shoulder injury that’s hampered him since Sport 1, nonetheless the Suns are hopeful he’s going to be available as soon as they inspect to finish off the Lakers in Sport 6.

Philosophize of the sequence: Suns lead 3-2. Sport 6 is Thursday in Los Angeles (10: 30 p.m. ET, TNT).

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NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: First-spherical matchups, results, game instances and TV info

Here’s where the remainder of the first-spherical sequence stand entering Wednesday:

Sixers vs. Wizards

Top-seeded Philadelphia returns home for every other chance to conclude out the sequence, nonetheless the supreme scenario moving forward is the health of All-Star heart Joel Embiid, who’s doubtful for Sport 5 with a sore correct knee. The Sixers are composed in adjust and would possibly perhaps maybe perhaps perhaps likely finish off the Wizards quickly, nonetheless their title hopes hinge on Embiid being wholesome and dominant. If he misses important time, the Eastern Convention will be large open. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons will need to tackle bigger roles in the offense.

Philosophize of the sequence: Sixers lead 3-1. Sport 5 is Wednesday in Philadelphia (7 p.m. ET, NBATV).

Knicks vs. Hawks

Trae Young and the Hawks inspect to originate the Knicks’ return to the playoffs transient with a chance to conclude out the sequence at Madison Sq. Garden. Fan conduct will be entrance and heart as the sequence is lend a hand at MSG for the first time since a fan turned into banned from the enviornment for spitting on Young during Sport 2. Young hasn’t been tormented by the fan vitriol in his first playoff abilities. Instead, he is emerged as one in all the early stars of the postseason, averaging 27.5 points and 10.0 assists.

Philosophize of the sequence: Hawks lead 3-1. Sport 5 is Wednesday in New York (7: 30 p.m. ET, TNT).

Jazz vs. Grizzlies

Mike Conley will never in actuality be an correct villain in Memphis; there’s too distinguished history there for that to ever be the case. However he is done a stout job of playing the characteristic to build the Jazz on the verge of eliminating his customary Grizzlies team. Conley knocked down key photographs in the fourth quarter to lend a hand conclude out Utah’s wins in Video games 3 and 4 in Memphis, silencing the Grindhouse crowd that cheered him on for 12 seasons. Ja Morant and the Grizzlies obtained’t roll over facing elimination, nonetheless they’re clearly overmatched in a chain that would possibly perhaps maybe perhaps perhaps attend as a springboard for bigger things next season.

Philosophize of the sequence: Jazz lead 3-1. Sport 5 is Wednesday in Utah. (9: 30 p.m. ET, NBATV).

Clippers vs. Mavericks

After dropping the first two games of the sequence in Los Angeles, the Clippers gain seized momentum and residential-court back lend a hand with a pair of wins in Dallas. Kawhi Leonard has quietly been one in all the top performers of the playoffs to date, averaging 33 points per game on 64.4% shooting overall and 50.1% from 3-point fluctuate. Luka Doncic struggled in the Mavericks’ Sport 4 loss after straining his neck in Sport 3, nonetheless his condition has reportedly improved with rest in latest days. The Mavericks need Doncic as conclude to 100% as imaginable in the occasion that they gain got any hopes of advancing.

Philosophize of the sequence: Tied at 2-2. Sport 5 is Wednesday in Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT).

Prepare Matt Eppers on Twitter @meppers_.