Blazers star Damian Lillard’s clutch scoring numbers are staggering

Dame Time. It's becoming so commonplace, we just expect it. Any time the Portland Trail Blazers are locked in a close game in the fourth quarter, fans race to NBA League Pass expecting to see Damian Lillard take over.

Incredibly, he continues to deliver.

Lillard did it again Tuesday night, pouring in a season-high 50 points to lead the Blazers to a 125-124 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and hit a pair of go-ahead free throws with 1.2 seconds left as the Blazers overcame a 17-point deficit in the final six minutes for the win. Lillard finished 13-of-20 from the field, 6-of-13 on 3-pointers and 18-of-18 on free throws.

⌚️ 50 POINTS ON 20 SHOTS ⌚️@Dame_Lillard erupts for a season-high 50 to go along with 10 AST, sparking the @trailblazers 17-point comeback win! #RipCitypic.twitter.com/Ws5cuuqklR

"He continues to do things that are remarkable," said Blazers coach Terry Stotts. "Fifty points and 10 assists, and game-winners, and all the things that he does. I'm never surprised, but I never take it for granted."

The late-game heroics were just the latest in a season full of them for Lillard, who has put together a clutch time résumé as impressive as anyone in the league.

The NBA defines clutch time as the final five minutes of a game with a point difference of five or fewer. Lillard leads the league in clutch points with 124. He's shooting 60.3% from the field (35-of-58), 53.3% from 3-point range (16-of-30) and 100% from the foul line (38-of-38) in clutch situations.

Going deeper, in the final minute of games with a point difference of five or fewer, Lillard leads the NBA with 57 points while shooting 12-of-18 overall (66.7%), 5-of-9 on 3s (55.6%) and 28-of-28 on free throws.

Damian Lillard is now tied for seventh in NBA history with 12 50-point games. (Photo: Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports)

For Lillard, confidence is key in those situations, and true to form, he credited long hours in practice for helping him build the confidence to take — and make — so many clutch shots.

"You get better mentally and more confident in it because you've done it so often," Lillard said during his postgame interview with TNT. "You have the ultimate confidence that it's going in, and I think confidence is the biggest thing for shooters.

"You put the time in and you deserve to make those shots and you expect that result."

“You have the ultimate confidence that it’s going in… You put the time in and you deserve to make those shots.” @Dame_Lillard discusses delivering in crunch time. pic.twitter.com/wH5bDxuEIh

Here are four more things to know today in the NBA:

Piling up triple-doubles

LeBron James finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists Tuesday for his 99th career triple-double. James' fifth triple-double of the season led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 137-121 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 18-year veteran is fifth on the career list behind Oscar Robertson (181), Russell Westbrook (157), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107).

? @KingJames posts a triple-double for the 2nd consecutive night… @Lakers win 3rd straight! #LakeShow

25 PTS | 12 REB | 12 AST pic.twitter.com/NV8CI5xwLb

New management

The Atlanta Hawks dismissed Lloyd Pierce as coach on March 1 and haven't lost since. They've won six in a row under interim coach Nate McMillan after defeating the Houston Rockets 119-107 on Tuesday. It's their longest winning streak since January 2017 and has the Hawks back at .500 at 20-20. Atlanta has climbed to seventh place and back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

"Of course, I'm looking at it, but we're just taking this one game at a time and focusing on trying to get better every game," McMillan said. "I haven't talked with the guys a whole lot about our schedule, but this was a goal to try and get on a winning streak and put together a string of wins."

Impact of COVID-19

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was the latest NBA player to describe his bout with the conoravirus and the difficulties of overcoming it, telling reporters Tuesday that he experienced body aches, fever and other issues. "I could feel that it was something different," he said. "I could feel the sickness. I could just feel it in me. I could feel it in my bones, in my muscles, in my blood."

VanVleet has returned to practice after missing the Raptors' last five games. He is likely to remain out until Friday's game against the Utah Jazz.

“I had (COVID-19), I had a few days of symptoms. It was pretty rough a few of those days.”

Fred VanVleet talks about what it was like to have tested positive for COVID-19. #RapsOnSNpic.twitter.com/MPMr5sFezQ

Game of the night: Bucks at Sixers

Two of the top championship contenders in the Eastern Conference meet for the first time this season. They're also two of the hottest teams in the league: Milwaukee has won four in a row and nine of 10. Philadelphia has won six straight and 10 of 12. Even without star center Joel Embiid, the East-leading Sixers will be a big test for the Bucks, who haven't played a team in the top half of the conference since Jan. 18.

Follow Matt Eppers on Twitter @meppers_.

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