Damian Lillard’s MVP campaign is off to a strong start—the 26-year-old gave Utah 39 points Tuesday night, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 113-104 win against the visiting Jazz.
Lillard and the Blazers have now won a record 16 straight home openers.
CJ McCollum added 25 points for the victors.
Per the AP:
“With a streak that long, longest in the NBA, we wanted to keep it going,” said Damian Lillard, who had 39 points. “I was proud that we were able to do that tonight.”
Lillard made a pair of free throws before nailing a 3-pointer that put Portland up 109-102 with 1:02 left and the Jazz couldn’t catch up. […] “I wasn’t surprised. Were you surprised?” McCollum said about Lillard’s 3. “I saw the look in his eyes and I knew what time it was.”
Joe Johnson scored 29 points in his debut with the Jazz and Rodney Hood added 26, including a rim-rattling dunk in the third quarter.
