The NBA is more fun with this Damian Lillard in it.
Lillard looks healthy and like his vintage self again this season following core muscle surgery that kept him out most of last season — he dropped 41 on the Suns Friday, including knocking down five 3-pointers and getting to the line a dozen times.
⌚ It was 'Dame Time' tonight in Portland:
— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2022
🔥 @Dame_Lillard: 41 PTS | 7 REB | 5 3PM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/j4OISwLu3g
Lillard was doing it all — even using the Jedi mind trick to get Deandre Ayton to miss a key free throw.
Dame talking to Ayton before the clutch free throws pic.twitter.com/1WqACKdUEE
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) October 22, 2022
This game had a wild ending, including Devin Booker giving the Suns an early 109-106 lead in overtime with a driving layup. Booker finished with 33 points.
But Anfernee Simons’ hook shot with 7.2 seconds left in OT sealed the Trail Blazers’ win (he had 16 points on the night).
Jusuf Nurkic had 20 points and 17 rebounds for Portland. Ayton finished the night with 26 for the Suns.
