Chauncey Billups calls Damian Lillard's 71-point game 'a piece of art' / News - Basketnews.com

Chauncey Billups called Damian Lillard's 71 points performance vs. Rockets 'a piece of art'.

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups had nothing but good words after Damian Lillard scored 71 points in a win against the Houston Rockets.

Player of the Game EFF 65 Damian Lillard Points 71 Accuracy 22-38 Rebounds 6 Assists 6

Lillard finished the game with 71 points (9/16 2PT, 13/22 2PT, 14/14 FT), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 turnovers.

The 32-year-old Lillard became the oldest player in NBA history with a 70-point game and the only player age 30 or older to accomplish the feat, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

He also became only the 8th player in NBA history to score 70+ points in a single game.

"It really, really was a masterful performance," Billups said. "It was a piece of art. That was incredible."

NBA Players with 70+ points games

Wilt Chamberlain - 100 points Kobe Bryant - 81 points David Thompson - 73 points Elgin Baylor - 71 points David Robinson - 71 points Damian Lillard - 71 points Donovan Mitchell - 71 points Devin Booker - 70 points

After the game, Lillard admitted that he enjoys such moments.

"I enjoy those moments in the game when I'm just going after people," Lillard said. "When I'm in attack mode."

"I think any hooper enjoys those moments when you're hot, you're in attack mode, you're feeling good," Lillard added. "But it's the stuff afterward that I struggle with, like when I walked off the court, was I supposed to be overly excited, or what?"

Lillard said he got drug tested by the league shortly after his performance,which kind of dampened the moment because Lillard is afraid of needles.

"I know I've got a lot of tattoos, but when you're doing a blood draw, it's different from tattoos. It brought me down from here to floor," Lillard said, gesturing from above his head and then dropping his hand.

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