For the first time since April 27, 2025, Damian Lillard stepped on an NBA court on Wednesday night. He said it felt like home.
Lillard, coming off a torn left Achilles, played 19 minutes and finished with 15 points in his first game back — and his first game as a starting backcourt with Ja Morant. Those two found a little chemistry.
Ja ➡️ Dame
— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2026
Morant saves the ball from going out of bounds and throws it to his new teammate cutting to the rim for the layup 🔥 https://t.co/yjzquXRQMU pic.twitter.com/UWBV0dMLLi
Lillard finished with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range.
Welcome back @Dame_Lillard 👏
— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2026
He posted 15 PTS, 3 3PM, & 2 STL in his return to action in Rip City, helping the @trailblazers clinch their first win of the NBA preseason! pic.twitter.com/kuAPk3fZcw
Lillard said it felt like home.
"It felt like I was back where I belong... back home."@Dame_Lillard on what it meant to make his preseason return to Portland and the court! pic.twitter.com/rW7xhK7D5a
— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2026
Morant finished with eight points on 3-of-8 shooting and had five assists on the night. Both were working both on bal and off at times — especially Lillard — as Portland worked to run some of the offense through Deni Avdija, who had 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in just 21 minutes on the court.
Scoot Henderson, who will be coming off the bench and in a new role for him, had his own highlight moment.
"GET THAT SCOOT!" https://t.co/6Gxmk4cS00 pic.twitter.com/AMaAr9dCvh
— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2026
