PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (30-34) at DETROIT PISTONS (15-49)
Mar. 6, 2023 — Little Caesars Arena — 4:00 pm PST
Regular Season Game #65 — Away Game #33
TV: Root Sports
RADIO: Rip City Radio 620 AM
SERIES HISTORY
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 69-55
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 43-19
DETROIT HOME: Pistons lead, 36-26
SERIES NOTES
- Portland and Detroit will meet for the second and final time of the regular season on March 6 in Detroit.
- LAST MATCHUP: The Trail Blazers defeated the Pistons by a final score of 135-106 on Jan. 2 in Portland. Jerami Grant posted a game-high 36 points (12-17 FG, 5-8 3P, 7-9 FT) to go along with two rebounds in 28 minutes.
- THIS SEASON: Portland leads the 2022-23 season series between the Trail Blazers and Pistons, 1-0.
- LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers won the 2021-22 season series against the Pistons, 2-0.
- In 17 career games against the Pistons, Damian Lillard has scored 30-plus points seven times, including his last five matchups.
- CONNECTIONS: Portland Head Coach Chauncey Billups played for Detroit from 2002-08 and 2013-14, earning an NBA championship with the Pistons in 2004 when he was named the NBA Finals MVP.
- Jerami Grant played for Detroit from 2020-22, averaging 20.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 33 minutes per game.
NEWS AND NOTES
TRIPLE THREAT: Portland has three players averaging 20 or more points this season: Damian Lillard (32.5), Anfernee Simons (21.1) and Jerami Grant (20.7). The Trail Blazers have never had a season in which three players were averaging 20-plus points.
20 FOR 25: On March 3 at Atlanta, Damian Lillard recorded his 24th straight game with 20-plus points, marking the longest streak of his career. Lillard extended the streak to 25 games on March 5 at Orlando when he posted 41 points, marking the longest active streak of 20-plus point games in the NBA this season.
Lillard's Longest Streaks of 20-Plus Point Games:
25 Jan. 8-March 5, 2023
23 Jan. 3-March 6, 2020
21 Feb. 2-March 19, 2021
LORDY, LORDY, LOOK WHO GOT 40: With 41 points on March 1 vs. New Orleans, Damian Lillard passed Adrian Dantley to move up to the No. 17 spot for the most games with 40 or more points in NBA history. He currently has 54 career games
with 40-plus points and 14 this season, which is the most in the NBA.
Most Games with 40-Plus Points in NBA History:
- Dominque Wilkins 56
- Damian Lillard 54
- Adrian Dantley 52
- Russell Westbrook 50
FEBRUARY FREE THROWS: Damian Lillard shot 96.3% (105-of-109) from the line in February. Lillard and Dirk Nowitzki are the only players in NBA history to make 100-plus free throws in a month while shooting at least 95% from the line.
OH, WHAT A NIGHT: Damian Lillard scored a career-high and franchise record 71 points (22-38 FG, 13-22 3P, 14-14 FT) on Feb. 26 vs. Houston, tying Donovan Mitchell for the most points in a game this season.
- His 71 points are tied for the eighth-highest scoring game in NBA history.
- Became the first player in NBA history with 70- plus points, five-plus rebounds, five-plus assists and 10-plus 3PM in a game.
- Became the oldest player with a 70-point game in NBA history.
- Had an 80.4% true shooting percentage, the highest in a 70-point game in NBA history.
- Recorded 71 points in the fewest minutes played in a 70-point game in NBA history (39:11).
- Became the first player to have multiple 60-point games in a single season since himself in 2019-20.
- Scored 54 more points than anyone else in the game, the largest difference between the top scorers in a game since Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in 2006.
- His 13 3PM set a new franchise record.
CLIMBING THE LADDERS: With 71 points on Feb. 26 vs. Houston, Damian Lillard became the eighth player in NBA history to score 70-plus points in a game. He also passed Michael Jordan and James Harden to move up to the No. 3 spot for the most games with 60-plus points in NBA history, in addition to moving up to the No. 6 spot for the most games with 50-plus points in NBA history and tying No. 17 for the most games with 40-plus points in NBA history.
Most Games with 70-Plus Points in NBA History:
- Wilt Chamberlain 6
- Elgin Baylor 1
- David Thompson 1
- David Robinson 1
- Kobe Bryant 1
- Devin Booker 1
- Donovan Mitchell 1
- Damian Lillard 1
Most Games with 60-Plus Points in NBA History:
- Wilt Chamberlain 32
- Kobe Bryant 6
- Damian Lillard 5
- Michael Jordan 4
- James Harden 4
Most Games with 50-Plus Points in NBA History:
- Elgin Baylor 17
- Damian Lillard 15
- Rick Barry 14
- LeBron James 14
19,000 AND COUNTING: On Feb. 6 vs. Houston, Damian Lillard surpassed 19,000 career points. Dame became the 64th player in NBA history to record 19,000 or more career points.
IN GOOD COMPANY: Damian Lillard shot 13-of-22 from three on Feb. 26 vs. Houston, passing Klay Thompson to move up to the No. 2 spot for the most career games with nine-plus 3PM. Anfernee Simons became the sixth player in NBA history to record at least five games with nine-plus 3PM when he shot 9-of-12 from three on Feb. 3 at Washington.
Most Career Games with Nine-Plus 3PM:
Steph Curry 38
Damian Lillard 13
Klay Thompson 12
James Harden 9
J.R. Smith 5
Anfernee Simons 5
HIGH HALVES: Damian Lillard recorded 41 points (13-19 FG, 8-11 3P, 7-7 FT) in the first half on Feb. 26 vs. Houston, marking his career high for points in any half and the second-highest scoring half in the NBA this season. His eight 3PM in the first
half tied his own franchise record for threes in a half.
Lillard became the first player with a 40-point half and a 30-point half in the same game since Wilt Chamberlain, and the first player with 40 points and eight 3PM in a half since Kobe Bryant in 2003. He also became the 10th player in NBA history since 1996-97 to record a 40-plus point half.
Highest Scoring Halves in the NBA This Season:
Donovan Mitchell 42 (Jan. 2 vs. Chicago, 2H)
Damian Lillard 41 (Feb. 26 vs. Houston, 1H)
Devin Booker 36 (Dec. 17 vs. New Orleans, 2H)
MOVING ON UP: On Feb. 26 vs. Houston, Damian Lillard passed Dale Ellis (19,004) and Reggie Theus (19,015) on the NBA’s all-time scoring list to move up to the No. 62 spot. He entered the season at No. 85 with 17,665 career points and currently has 19,125 career points.
NBA All-Time Scoring List (Nos. 55-65):
- Dwight Howard 19485
- Tony Parker 19473
- Terry Cummings 19460
- Jamal Crawford 19419
- Bob Lanier 19248
- Eddie Johnson 19202
- Gail Goodrich 19181
- Damian Lillard 19125
- Reggie Theus 19015
- Dale Ellis 19004
- Scottie Pippen 18940
NASSIR'S NIGHT: Nassir Little recorded a season-high 26 points (10-19 FG, 5-9 3P, 1-1 FT) on Feb. 23 at Sacramento, marking the second-highest scoring output of his career and his fifth career game with 20-plus points. His five 3PM tied his career-high.
3-POINT CHAMP: Damian Lillard won the 2023 Starry 3-Point Contest, dropping 26 points in the first round to advance and another 26 points in the final round to win.
LEADING AT THE BREAK: From Jan. 1 up until the All-Star break, Damian Lillard led the NBA in points (806), FGM (241) and 3PM (94). His 721 points over 20 games from Jan. 6-Feb. 13 marked the highest-scoring 20-game stretch of his career and the most points scored by a Blazer over 20 games in franchise history.
LAST FIVE GAMES
Trail Blazers 122, Magic 119 -- March 5, 2023 -- Amway Center -- Game #64 (30-34, 13-19 Away)
Portland defeated Orlando by a final score of 122-119 ... Damian Lillard tallied a game-high 41 points (10-25 FG, 4-16 3P, 17-20 FT) to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block in 37 minutes ... Jerami Grant recorded 20 points (5-14 FG, 3-8 3P, 7-7 FT), six rebounds, seven assists, one steal and two blocks in 39 minutes ... Cam Reddish finished with 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-4 3P), five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 37 minutes ... Drew Eubanks posted 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists and one steal in 26 minutes ... Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 26 points in 33 minutes.
Trail Blazers 111, Hawks 129 -- March 3, 2023 -- State Farm Arena -- Game #63 (29-34, 12-19 Away)
The Trail Blazers fell to the Hawks by a final score of 129-111 ... Damian Lillard finished with a team-high 33 points (10-21 FG, 5-11 3P, 8-9 FT) to go along with four rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 27 minutes ... Cam Reddish tallied 25 points (9-17 FG, 4-9 3P, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 33 minutes ... Jerami Grant posted 14 points (5-16 FG, 1-6 3P, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks in 39 minutes ... Dejounte Murray led Atlanta with a game-high 41 points to go along with five rebounds, six assists and one steal in 34 minutes ... Trae Young (23 points, 11 assists) and Clint Capela (11 points, 12 rebounds) put up double-doubles for the Hawks.
Trail Blazers 110, Pelicans 121 -- March 1, 2023 -- Moda Center -- Game #62 (29-33, 17-15 Home)
Portland fell to New Orleans by a final score of 121-110 ... Damian Lillard posted a game-high 41 points (12-22 FG, 2-9 3P, 15-16 FT) to go along with eight rebounds and one steal in 39 minutes ... Jerami Grant finished with 28 points (7-14 FG, 5-9 3P, 9-10 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one block in 38 minutes ... Matisse Thybulle tallied 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3P), eight rebounds, four assists, one steal and four blocks in 38 minutes ... Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 41 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes.
Trail Blazers 105, Warriors 123 -- February 28, 2023 -- Chase Center -- Game #61 (29-32, 12-18 Away)
The Trail Blazers fell to the Warriors by a final score of 123-105 ... Damian Lillard tallied a team-high 25 points (9-21 FG, 2-7 3P, 5-5 FT) to go along with three rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 35 minutes ... Jerami Grant posted 24 points (5-17 FG, 1-8 3P, 13-15 FT), five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 37 minutes ... Matisse Thybulle logged 15 points (5-7 FG, 5-6 3P), three assists, one steal and two blocks in 25 minutes ... Jordan Poole led Golden State with 29 points in 33 minutes.
Trail Blazers 131, Rockets 114 -- February 26, 2023 -- Moda Center -- Game #60 (29-31, 17-14 Home)
Portland defeated Houston by a final score of 131-114 ... Damian Lillard recorded a career-high 71 points (22-38 FG, 13-22 3P, 14-14 FT) to go along with six rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes as he passed Michael Jordan and James Harden (4) to move up to the No. 3 spot for the most games with 60-plus points in NBA history (5) ... Jerami Grant tallied 13 points (5-10 FG, 1-2 3P, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and one steal in 32 minutes ... Nassir Little posted 11 points (3-3 FG, 3-3 3P, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and one block in 20 minutes ... Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 17 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes.
INJURY REPORT
Anfernee Simons (Right Ankle Sprain), Jusuf Nurkic (Left Calf Strain), Ryan Arcidiacono (Lower Back Pain), John Butler Jr. (G League Two-Way), Ibou Badji (Left Knee Soreness), and Justise Winslow (Left Ankle Sprain) are OUT for Monday's game.
For the Pistons, Killian Hayes (Left Hand Contusion), Rodney McGruder (Left Ankle Sprain), and James Wiseman (Left Knee Soreness) are QUESTIONABLE while Bojan Bogdanovic (Bilateral Achilles Soreness), Cade Cunningham (Left Tibia Stress Fracture), Jalen Duren (Bilateral Ankle Soreness), and Isaiah Stewart (Right Hip Soreness) are OUT.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Tip for Monday's game is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT. All Portland Trail Blazers regular season and preseason games will be broadcast on the Trail Blazers Broadcasting flagship station, Rip City Radio 620 AM. Travis Demers begins his fourth full season providing play-by-play commentary for all home and away games, with Michael Holton adding commentary.
On television, ROOT SPORTS PLUS will air 81 Trail Blazers regular season games featuring Kevin Calabro calling play-by-play, Lamar Hurd providing analysis and Brooke Olzendam reporting from the sideline. Between ROOT SPORTS PLUS, TNT and ESPN, all 82 regular season games will be televised. For all viewing visit www.trailblazers.com/watch.