Damian Lillard records first career ejection after 39-point performance goes in vain vs. Pelicans

Just a few days after Damian Lillard dropped a vintage 43-point performance against the Hornets, the 6-foot-2 guard was in form once again as the Trail Blazers took on the Pelicans in New Orleans. 

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He went off for 39 points, tied for his second-highest tally this season, on 13-of-24 shooting from the field, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc as he continued his recent red-hot streak. 

However, the game-high tally wasn’t enough to lead the shorthanded Portland squad to the win. With six minutes to go, the Trail Blazers were within touching distance as they only trailed by two (93-91).

Despite being so close, they had no answer for the Pelicans 19-6 run to end the game with Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring seven of his 18 fourth-quarter points as part of the run. 

Meanwhile, Lillard who is known to take over late with “Dame Time” only managed two points over the final six minutes and seemed frustrated with the officiating. He received both his technicals in the span of the final two minutes of the game, which eventually led to his first career ejection.

Coming into this contest, the six-time All-Star had received 29 technicals in his career but never got called for two in the same game which would lead to an ejection.

This was Lillard’s 708th career regular-season game. His tally of 707 games, over 10 seasons, is far from the most in NBA history but still a considerable number. 

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