Nuggets' Michael Malone Says Nikola Jokic Didn't Deserve Ejection for Cam Payne Foul
Jun 14, 2021
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone () in the second half of Game 3 of an NBA second-round playoff series Friday, June 11, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone thought Nuggets star Nikola Jokic only made "marginal" contact with Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne in earning a Flagrant 2 foul in the third quarter.
"He was making a play on the ball," Malone told reporters.
Michael Malone was asked about the explanation he got from the officials. "I think it was something along the lines of, 'wind up, malicious intent, some other mubo jumbo.'"#Nuggets#MileHighBasketball @CBSDenver H/T @msinger for the question. pic.twitter.com/U7LqrLGnY4
This is the damn problem with the @NBA right now.. you do not make that call vs Jokic a FLAGRANT2. The swipe was a frustration foul. We’ve seen worse. The fans do not attend games for this kind of call. You’ve EJECTED the league-MVP. You don’t do this.#Unreal
The implications of his ejection likely played a role in the criticism. The Nuggets trailed by eight points at that time, and it became a nine-point game once both teams shot their free throws stemming from the incident.
Denver was down 3-0 in the series, so losing Jokic effectively extinguished any hopes of a comeback. Malone's squad attempted to rally with a 35-point fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough as the Suns sealed a berth in the Western Conference Finals.
No team in NBA history has come back after dropping the first three games of a seven-game series. The Portland Trail Blazers in 2003 were the most recent team to nearly pull it off, falling to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 in the first round.
The Nuggets' ultimate fate probably would've been the same if Jokic had received a Flagrant 1 foul instead. Perhaps they could've forced the Suns to close things out at home in Game 5, but Phoenix's first three wins underscored how it was simply a better team.
Ja Morant Says 'League Soft' After Nikola Jokic Ejected from Nuggets-Suns Game 4
Jun 14, 2021
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) brings the ball up court during the first half of Game 2 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
It's safe to say that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was not a fan of the officials' decision to eject Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic in the third quarter of Sunday's game between the MVP's team and the Phoenix Suns.
Morant called the league "soft" while suggesting Jokic should have been assessed a flagrant one instead.
While Denver's role players put up a fight down the stretch, it ultimately fell short in the 125-118 loss. Phoenix completed the sweep with Chris Paul and Devin Booker leading the way, and the Nuggets didn't have their go-to option to answer the Suns' backcourt down the stretch.
Denver likely would have lost even with Jokic on the floor considering it trailed by eight when he was ejected and was outplayed throughout the series, but the decision to throw him out left some of the league's brightest young stars confused.
Chris Paul Dominant as Suns Sweep Nuggets, Advance to Western Conference Finals
Jun 14, 2021
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, center, drives to the rim between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and forward Will Barton in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Phoenix Suns are headed to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Phoenix completed its second-round sweep of the Denver Nuggets with a 125-118 victory in Sunday's Game 4 at Ball Arena. Chris Paul and Devin Booker led the way for the red-hot Suns, who have now won seven games in a row since falling behind 2-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
Solid showings from Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Will Bartonweren't enough for the Nuggets, who were never able to overcome the loss of Jamal Murray in this series.
It also didn't help that Jokic was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul in the third quarter for winding up and hitting Cameron Payne in the face while going for the ball. That undercut Denver's late comeback efforts, which ran out of steam without the MVP on the floor.
If the Suns didn't announce themselves as serious title contenders when they eliminated the defending champions in the first round, they certainly did in the first three games of this series.
After all, the five starters each averaged at least 15 points a night, per the TNT broadcast, with Paul spearheading it all as a distributor and then clutch go-to option with the games on the line. It was more of the same out of the gates Sunday with the future Hall of Famer dishing out assists and hitting his patented midrange shots and everyone else doing their part.
Booker's part was unstoppable scorer, as he had 21 points by halftime thanks to his ability to get to the line and hit from the outside.
CP3, D-Book and the Suns are cruising to the WCF 😎
Cameron Johnson and Jae Crowder also hit multiple triples in the first half, while the latter was dominant on the defensive side with blocked shots and impressive rebounding. The result was an eight-point halftime lead and a golden opportunity to quickly close out Denver and start focusing on the Western Conference Finals.
The Suns were likely going to finish the Nuggets regardless given how well they've played, but the task seemingly got much easier when Jokic was ejected. Booker went chest-to-chest with the big man after his hard foul on Payne, and the visitors immediately responded with a spurt to push the lead to double digits before the fourth quarter.
Paul put on a show in that third quarter with an array of midrange jumpers and dictated the tempo even when Denver went on a run without Jokic. His presence drew in defenders to open up cutting lanes for Booker and Mikal Bridges as the Suns continued to keep the home team at bay despite the crowd's energy.
CP3 continued to come through whenever the Suns needed a play with an and-one, steal and layup in transition, and midrange jumper to ice it at closing time. He was unstoppable and is now one series away from his first career NBA Finals appearance.
Denver's Comeback Falls Short Without the Ejected Jokic
Never was it more apparent that the league MVP needed some help in this series than it was in Game 3 when the Nuggets lost by 14 even though Jokic posted a dominant triple-double of 32 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists.
Head coach Michael Malone tried to find some assistance Sunday by inserting Barton and Monte Morris into the starting lineup.
It worked for stretches, as Morris poured in nine points in the first quarter, and Facundo Campazzo was able to provide a spark off the bench with his defense and outside shooting. Throw in Jokic posting a double-double by halftime as he controlled the boards and demonstrated soft touch in the lane, and Denver figured to be up at intermission.
playoffs. elimination game. give him a flagrant 1 and play ball man .
Instead, it still trailed because of an inability to get timely defensive stops.
It is difficult to replicate the desperation of playing for one's season at home, and Barton showed plenty of it with 10 points in the third quarter alone with multiple threes and plays in transition. His burst closed the gap, but much of the progress came to a halt when Jokic was ejected and the deficit grew to double digits heading to the fourth.
To Denver's credit, it would have been easy to fold and start looking ahead to next season without Jokic. However, JaVale McGee was an instant source of energy on the boards and in the paint, Campazzo continued to pester Phoenix's ball-handlers, and Porter and Barton continued looking for their shots.
It was an admirable effort as the role players came storming back to create some late drama, but they eventually ran out of energy and didn't have their go-to option to counter Paul's brilliance down the stretch.
What's Next?
Phoenix is heading to the Western Conference Finals, where it awaits the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.
Video: Nikola Jokic Ejected From Game 4 Vs. Suns After Slapping Cameron Payne
Jun 14, 2021
Referee David Guthrie, right, struggles to keep Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, back, from fighting with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic may have seen his MVP season end Sunday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Jokic was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul after swiping at the ball and hitting Suns guard Cameron Payne across the face. He came face to face with Suns star Devin Booker immediately after the play.
Jokic's frustration seemed evident as he swung his arm at the ball. His team was down eight points in the third quarter and facing a 3-0 series deficit.
Denver's unenviable position came despite his best efforts as he averaged 26.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the first three games. He had 22 points, 11 boards and four dimes in 28 minutes prior to his exit.
Assuming this is it for the Nuggets, it's an ignominious end for an otherwise historic campaign for Jokic.
Nuggets' Nikola Jokic on 2020-21 NBA MVP Win: 'Never Thought I Would Be on the List'
Jun 9, 2021
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 7: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns during Round 2, Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 7, 2021 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic isn't putting too much stock into his 2020-21 MVP win, but he told reporters he was surprised to win the award on Tuesday.
"I never thought I would be on the list," he said. "It's a surprise."
Jokic earned 91 of 101 available first-place votes and blew away the second-place player, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who earned one first-place vote and 62 second-place votes.
Other first place vote-getters included Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Paul and Derrick Rose, the latter of whom won the fan vote, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Winning the NBA's MVP award wasn't even on his mind when he was working toward a professional basketball career. The Serbia native said on TNT's Inside the NBA that he just wanted to make it in the EuroLeague (h/t Tim Bontemps of ESPN).
He credited his teammates with helping him earn the honor, but Jokic had quite the impressive resume. He was one of 11 players to appear in all 72 regular-season games this season, finishing with 26.4 points and 8.3 assists, both career highs. His 10.8 rebounds tied a career best.
It's not bad at all for someone who was drafted in the second round at No. 41 overall—a selection that didn't exactly catch the attention of anyone back when it happened in 2014.
But Jokic immediately made an impact, earning an All-Rookie nod in his first season, then grabbing three consecutive All-Star nods from 2018-21. The 26-year-old, who became the first center to win the award since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000, is now eligible for a supermax contract extension with the Nuggets next offseason.
First, he's turning his attention to a title. The Nuggets are looking to earn their first win in the Western Conference Semifinals in Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Nikola Jokic Just Dominated 1 of the Strongest MVP Fields Ever
Jun 8, 2021
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) brings the ball up court in the second half during an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Friday, May 7, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
For months, there seemed to be a cabal of talking heads hellbent on giving the 2021 NBA MVP to anyone but the clearest choice—even though he had distanced himself from the pack since as far back as mid-January.
Nikola Jokic, who finished the season with absurd averages of 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 threes, was in the conversation for MVP all season. And while there were pushes for Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Damian Lillard and even Chris Paul, the Denver Nuggets' Serbian point center was officially announced as the MVP on Tuesday.
There's no nitpicking this case. Box plus/minus pegs Jokic's campaign as the ninth-best since 1973-74 (BPM is "...a basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball player's contribution to the team when that player is on the court," according to Basketball Reference).
He was well above average in two-point percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage. He trailed only Curry in "the number of extra points added by True Shot Attempts made above league average."
Despite prolonged absences of both Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray, Jokic's team finished third in the ever-brutal Western Conference. And, unlike just about every other candidate (genuine or contrived) in the race, Jokic played in all 72 games.
He's not the MVP for winning a war of attrition, though. Sure, it's fine to add that anecdote to the analysis, but it shouldn't be much more than that. On a game-by-game basis, Jokic was the best player in the league in the regular season. And in this particular regular season, that's really saying something.
If you take every MVP campaign since 1973-74 (as far back as complete box scores are tracked), and find the average production per 36 minutes, you're left with this lofty stat line:
25.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 0.8 threes, 58.9 true-shooting percentage, 21.9 game score ("...a rough measure of a player's productivity for a single game)
There are 18 players with marks over 20 in game score per 36 minutes this season. Thirteen are at 21.9 or higher. Jokic finished this season at 26.5, just behind Joel Embiid's league-leading 26.6 (as you'll see, one of the only catchalls in which Jokic doesn't lead the league).
Yes, pace is up. The increased volume of three-point attempts from all over the league has also contributed to some statistical inflation. But that shouldn't be an excuse to dismiss today's stars. The active players putting up these gaudy numbers deserve some credit.
Now, regardless of size or position, possessing the full gamut of basketball skills is preferred. Thirty years ago, a player like Jokic likely would've been asked to spend all game fighting in the trenches with other bigs. Post-ups, jump hooks and rebounds would've been his primary concerns.
Today, despite being 6'11" and not the game's most fleet-of-foot player, Jokic is trusted to essentially play point guard on offense. And even in this skill- and talent-laden era, he has managed to produce at a level no one else does.
If you sort every NBA player w/ 500+ MIN in 2020-21 by the AVERAGE OF THEIR RANKS in 10 catch-alls (Box +/-, RAPTOR, Estimated +/-, LEBRON and Game Score per 36 minutes, as well as cumulative versions of each), this is the top 30... pic.twitter.com/Z3AEA7Uy79
There may be better scorers, though Curry, Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson are the only players who match or exceed Jokic's 2020-21 marks for points per 75 possessions and true-shooting percentage. There may be better passers, though Jokic is top-10 in assists per 75 possessions and hands out his dimes with a flavor all his own. There are certainly more productive rebounders, though Jokic trails only Rudy Gobert among double-digit rebounders in contested rebounding percentage.
But no one combines every skill at the level Jokic does. He wasn't just the only player to average at least 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists with a 60-plus true-shooting percentage this season—he's the only player who's ever done it.
He's long been a plus player on both ends of the floor too. He's not just piling up numbers on offense. Catchall metrics from Basketball Reference, Dunks & Threes, Basketball Index and FiveThirtyEight all identified Jokic as a positive-impact defender in 2020-21.
He'll never be mistaken for a lockdown perimeter player (nor would most bigs), but quick hands, generally being in the right place, ending possessions with defensive rebounds and just being flat-out large all help.
Of course, none of this is meant to disparage the cases of others in the league. Had Embiid played a bit more (he appeared in 51 games) his candidacy would've been stronger. Curry's team missing the playoffs is probably what doomed him. Both had bigger impacts on their teams' raw plus-minus.
Jokic's triumph is about Jokic.
Seven years ago, ESPN famously played a Taco Bell ad while the Nuggets spent their No. 41 pick on the 2021 MVP.
— Front Office Sports Today (@FOS_Today) June 8, 2021
"Actually, though, I was sleeping when the Nuggets drafted me," Jokic later wrote in The Players' Tribune. "My brother had celebrations and champagne, and he called to tell me. I picked up the phone, but I really wasn't listening. I just told him, 'Come on, man, I'm sleeping.' Then I hung up. So I heard the next morning."
When the broadcast returned from the break, Rece Davis spent about 15 seconds on the selection.
"Nikola Jokic from Serbia, going to Denver," Davis said. "He also joins Jusuf Nurkic, from Bosnia-Herzegovina. So, Denver going with the international players."
For many, that was Jokic's introduction to the league. Less than a decade later, he's the recipient of the game's most prestigious individual award. And he takes it home in the same year that Embiid had his best individual campaign. He did it with Curry returning close to his form from the 73-win season.
He secured the award with past MVPs like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Giannis Antetokounmpo still in the league and performing at a high level.
The NBA is as talent-rich as it's ever been. And Jokic is its Most Valuable Player.
Aaron Gordon Says Nuggets Played 'Soft or Scared' in Game 1 Loss to Suns
Jun 8, 2021
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 7: Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns plays defense on Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets during Round 2, Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 7, 2021 at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon
said his team played "soft or scared" in a Game 1 loss to the
Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
"Soft, that's a good way to put
it," Gordon told reporters. "Scared, that's another way to
play it. You could choose between them two words, either soft or
scared, that's what it felt like we were playing like. And then we
was just breaking down. We were breaking down defensively,
offensively, we weren't getting into what we needed to get into. We
were letting them dictate our offense a little too much. Really just
a lot of breakdowns."
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone added
the squad had a "soft mentality."
Denver led by one at halftime, but it
was outscored by 10 in the third quarter and eight in the fourth en
route to a 122-105 road loss.
The Suns shot over 60 percent from
inside the three-point line and scored 48 points in the paint to take
the early series lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic didn't agree
with Gordon and Malone about the reason for the loss.
"I don't think so [that] we played
soft," he said. "We have to do a better job, of course,
handling the runs. I think in one moment they were on a 16-0 run. ...
When things aren't going our way, we just need to be more decisive, I
think. We need to know what we are doing as a group."
Meanwhile, it was a strong all-around
performance from the Suns, who won the rebounding battle (44-41),
assisted on 30 of their 46 made field goals and turned the ball over
just 10 times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXFGojR9bUM
Phoenix forward Mikal Bridges led all
scorers with 23 points, and he was one of four Suns players to score
at least 20 in the series opener. Chris Paul (21), Devin Booker (21)
and Deandre Ayton (20) were the others.
Jokic led the Nuggets with 22 points
and nine rebounds.
Game 2 in Phoenix is set for Wednesday
night at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
Damian Lillard Says Nikola Jokic Deserves NBA MVP After Blazers' 1st-Round Loss
Jun 4, 2021
PORTLAND, OREGON - JUNE 03: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter during Round 1, Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center on June 03, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets may have ended the Portland Trail Blazers' season with Thursday's 126-115 Game 6 win in the first round series between the teams, but Damian Lillard is still a fan of the superstar big man.
"I think he is the MVP," he told reporters regarding Jokic.
Damian Lillard on Nikola Jokic being the MVP and possibly leading the Nuggets to a championship: pic.twitter.com/seRLY7Nfno
The Nuggets center played like an MVP on Thursday, posting 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Lillard put up 28 points of his own to go along with 13 assists, though he also turned the ball over five times and shot just 3-of-11 from the field.
Compared to the instant classic Dame put up in Game 5—55 points, 10 assists, 12-of-17 from three— and his lofty standard in general, it wasn't his best game.
Damian Lillard was 1-of-9 for 9 points, and 6 assists in the second half tonight. Just ran out of superpower.
While Lillard was gracious when it came to his feelings on Jokic, he was less pleased with his team's inability to get out of the first round against a Nuggets team without Jamal Murray or Will Barton:
I asked Damian Lillard if he thinks there need to be changes: "We didn't win a championship, so where we are right now isn't good enough if we can't get out of the first round against a team without two of their three or four best players."
"Regardless of how it ended, we're going to always have our heads held high, have class, and go about it like real warriors. We lost, they're the better team, congrats to them and it's back to the drawing board for us"
For Jokic and Lillard, the storylines now diverge. Can Jokic lead a shorthanded Nuggets team to the NBA Finals? Is the likely MVP good enough to get this squad through a loaded Western Conference without Murray?
For Dame, meanwhile, the question inevitably will be whether he decides to stick it out in Portland. The Blazers don't have the ammunition to load up for a championship push via trades. If he wants a chip, it likely will have to come elsewhere.
Lillard has maintained in the past that he isn't the sort of player to pursue a superteam elsewhere to chase titles. But his prime years won't last forever. The Blazers have gotten past the first round just once in the past five seasons—nobody could blame Lillard if he decided it was time for a fresh start somewhere new.
Austin Rivers on Damian Lillard's 55-point Game: 'He Was Not Missing for S--t'
Jun 2, 2021
DENVER, CO - JUNE 1: Damian Lillard (0) of the Portland Trail Blazers cooks against Austin Rivers (25) of the Denver Nuggets during the first overtime period at Ball Arena on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers shared the helpless feeling he had defending Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Tuesday night:
"Bro....he was not missing for s--t," Rivers wrote on Instagram. "1 [hand] in his face, 2 hands in his face. Lol I'm like wtf is this. Banking threes and s--t. In all seriousness, it's really fun to guard him. He's as tough as they come. No lie."
Although Lillard went off for 55 points, the Nuggets still pulled off a 147-140 double-overtime victory and took a 3-2 series lead.
Lillard was unstoppable Tuesday, playing 52 minutes and going 17-of-24 from the field and 12-of-17 from three.
The 12 made three-pointers set an NBA playoff record, breaking the previous mark of 11 set by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson in 2016.
While Rivers had no answers for Lillard defensively, the replacement for the injured Jamal Murray had a solid game offensively with 18 points and seven assists in 47 minutes, the second-highest minute total on the team behind only Michael Porter Jr.'s 48.
Aside from Lillard, no other Blazers player reached the 20-point plateau. Meanwhile, three Nuggets players finished with at least 26, including 26 from Porter and 28 from Monte Morris off the bench.
It was once again center and NBA MVP front-runner Nikola Jokic who led the way for Denver, recording 38 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists over 46 minutes.
The Blazers also ran into major foul trouble by the end of the game with starters CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington all fouling out.
Lillard truly was a one-man show for the Blazers on Tuesday, and while it was nearly enough to pull out the victory, Denver's team approach ultimately won out.
Now, the Blazers are one loss away from a first-round exit for the fourth time in the past five seasons. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in Portland.
Nuggets' Michael Malone Says Damian Lillard Was 'Superhuman' in Game 5
Jun 2, 2021
DENVER, CO - JUNE 1: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during Round 1, Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 1, 2021 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone had high praise for Damian Lillard after the Portland Trail Blazers star had a record-breaking performance in Game 5 of the teams' first-round series Tuesday.
"Damian Lillard was superhuman tonight," Malone told reporters.
He ended the night with 55 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three blocks and single-handedly forced both overtime periods in the 147-140 victory for the Nuggets. No other Blazers player reached 20 points, while Denver had three 20-plus-point scorers.
Lillard, who spent the weekend telling his teammates that this game would be the difference-maker in the series, became the first player to register a 55-point, 10-assist stat line in the playoffs. His 12 made threes were also a postseason record.
The Trail Blazers were down by as many as 22 points, but Lillard kept the team afloat. He hit a three to send the game to overtime with 3.0 seconds left and then gave Portland another chance by forcing double overtime:
His performance earned praise from more than just Malone. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry were among the NBA stars who were watching, while Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson also chimed in:
I had like 4 tweets I wanted to write to describe this MASTERPIECE by Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr, but I am seriously at a loss for words...
Despite his legendary performance, Lillard wasn't exactly interested in talking about it postgame. Instead, he was focused on what lay ahead for the Trail Blazers, who must now win two straight to advance:
“All that matters is that we can’t lose another game in this series.”
