Damian Lillard in Utah of grace: 60 points and victory!

After finding their way back to victory against San Antonio, the Blazers continue with their second straight win at home against the Jazz (134-124), behind the tremendous fight of Damian Lillard, author of 60 points, the second-highest offensive performance of the season, one unit short of his personal best.

However, if Damian Lillard quickly warmed the pulse of his team’s first five points, the Jazz got the best start, winning clearly in the first quarter (31-19). But, with 17 points in the second quarter alone, Damian Lillard reversed the trend in a period that his team dominated offensively (47-33), like this last 3 points at the bell of Nassir Little to return to the front (66-64).

The return from the locker room was bloodier for a Damian Lillard who just scored 20 points in a row in the last three minutes of the third quarter, including three 3-point bombs that went farther than anyone else. Excellent lady!

Pushed back to fifteen points, the Jazz will gradually accept the defeat, while Damian Lillard scored a dozen points without much pressure in the last quarter. With 60 pawns, he had the second-best offensive performance of the season (behind Donovan Mitchell’s 71 points, tied with Luka Doncic’s 60).

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

– The lady’s severe heat stroke. He sounded the alarm after a terrible loss to the Lakers and, as usual, Damian Lillard led by example. After his 37-point game to beat San Antonio, the point guard made a splash by scoring 60 points against Utah. A truly offensive demonstration marked by an incredible streak of 20 consecutive points at the end of the 3rd quarter, with the lunar shots that made his reputation. This is Lillard’s fourth career game of 60 or more points! He is joined by Michael Jordan and James Harden.

– A third quarter in the “twilight zone”. Up 82-74 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter, the Jazz were on their toes, perfectly in ambush to find a victory away from the often mentally fragile Blazers. But Damian Lillard took control of operations for an unforgettable streak in Rip City. It started with two layups and throws, then a 3-pointer, then a second from distance, then a power penetration, then another 3-pointer farther. 20 points in a row and here are the Blazers at 102-86, calmer to end the game.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Damian Lillard. How was Lillard’s night? With 29 seconds left, he had a chance to break his own career high, set at 61 units, but the ball bounced into the circle. This was perhaps the only hiccup of a dreamy night for the Queen who fired all the forests with a good performance on 60 pawns, in very good percentages, judge for yourself: 21/29 overall with 9/15 in 3-points and 9/10 throws! Great!

✅Jerami Grant. Under the bag in the last game, with his lowest total of the season (3 points), he rebounded well against the Jazz, with a solid performance of 19 points, 5 rebounds and a little of everything (2 assists, 2 steals, 1 fight ). At 9/15 on shots, including a bunch of dunks in the fast game, he regained his confidence offensively.

✅ Lauri Markkanen. The boss, who was considered untouchable, of the Jazz made his fight in Portland. But with only 24 points and 4 rebounds, the “Finisher” failed to turn the tide of the game that ran away from his team in the third quarter…

✅⛔️ Anfernee Simons. Damian Lillard’s young lieutenant finished with 16 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds. A great record of stats, notably marked by a beautiful 3-pointer at the buzzer at 24 or an explosive two-handed dunk on the baseline. But was marred by 5/15 on shots that didn’t show efficiency.

⛔️ Malik Beasley. The Jazz shooter had a rough night in Rip City, finishing the game with just 10 points on as many shooting attempts (3/10 including 3/9 from 3-pointers). That said, he also returned 6 rebounds and distributed 5 assists.

THE FOLLOWING

Portland (23-25): welcoming the Raptors on Saturday night.

Utah (25-26): Mavs reception Saturday night.