Damian Lillard has 71 points and 13 threes; Blazers beat Rockets

PORTLAND,Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard set franchise- and career-highs with 71points — tied for the most in the NBA this season — and 13three-pointers and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a two-gameskid with a 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sundaynight.

Lillardtied Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell for the most points in a gamethis season after Mitchell also scored 71 in a win over Chicago onJan. 2. Lillard broke his own franchise mark of 61 points, whichhe’d done twice, on a three-pointer with 4:42 left that also toppedhis career record for threes in a game with 11.

Lillard’s13 three-pointers were one shy of the NBA record set by GoldenState’s Klay Thompson in 2018. Thompson’s Warriors teammate StephenCurry (2016) and Chicago’s Zach LaVine (2019) also made 13threes.

In thefinal minutes, the crowd at the Moda Center was on its feet, phonesrecording the moment, while chanting “MVP! MVP!”

71 points13 threes6 assists6 boards2 TOs39 minutes57.9 FG%59 3PT%100 FT% @Dame_Lillardis the first player in NBA history with 70+ points, 10+ threes, 5+assists, 5+ rebounds in a game. He was one 3 shy of tying therecord for most 3s in a game. pic.twitter.com/49UPnvpit8

Lillardleft the game with 44 seconds left, tied with Mitchell, ElginBaylor (1960) and David Robinson (1994) for the eighth-most pointsscored in a game in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain owns the leaguerecord with 100 for Philadelphia against New York on March 2, 1962,at Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Lillard had41 points and eight three-pointers by halftime. It was acareer-high in a half for Lillard and the most points in a half forany player in the league this season. He had 50 by the start of thefourth quarter.

JeramiGrant added 13 points for the Blazers, who led by as many as 23.Portland is part of a cluster of eight Western Conference just fourwins apart that are vying for playoff spots.

AlperenSengun had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, sitting inlast place in the Western Conference with just 13 overall wins andnine-straight losses.

Houstontrailed 102-88 heading into the final quarter, but scored the firstsix points of the period to close the gap to 102-94. Grant’sthree-pointer for Portland extended the margin to 108-98.

Lillard’sthree, his 11th of the night to tie his career high, made it113-103 with 6:43 left. He added a driving layup and a free throw.Houston could not catch up.

Lillardstarted after resting for Thursday night’s 133-116 loss toSacramento. He participated in the NBA All-Star Game and won thethree-point contest the previous weekend.

ButPortland remained without center Jusuf Nurkic (left calf) and guardAnfernee Simons (right ankle).

The Blazershad a 31-30 lead after one quarter, led by Lillard’s 16. Portlandextended the lead to 50-39 after Lillard went on a personal 9-2 runagainst the Rockets, capped by a three-pointer from 35 feetout.

The Blazersled 73-58 at the break with Lillard the 10th player since the1996-97 season with 40-plus points in a half.

Lillard has15 games with 50 or more points, sixth-most in NBA history.

SIDELINED

GuardsJalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. did not play, although Rocketscoach Stephen Silas said both should be available for the team’sshort upcoming homestand. Green missed his second game with astrained left groin. Porter has been out 19 games because of a leftfoot contusion.

TIP-INS

Rockets: Itwas the third and final meeting between the teams this season. TheBlazers won the previous two. Last season, the series ended 2-2.... Jae’Sean Tate had four fouls in the first half, but finishedwith 17 points.

TrailBlazers: Following reports that Lillard was rallying his teammatesfor the final 23 games of the season, Blazers coach ChaunceyBillups was asked how he’s motivating his team for the stretch run.“What I’m mostly always talking about is `Here’s where we are.Here’s how we got there. This is how we’ve got to climb out ofit,’” Billups said.

UPNEXT

Rockets:Return home to face the Denver Nugget on Tuesday.

TrailBlazers: Visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.