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Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers hits the ball during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on February 01, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFP
Damian Lillard recorded 42 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to lift the visiting Portland Trail Blazers to a 122-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Lillard reached the 40-point plateau for the second straight game and ninth this season. He made five 3-pointers and hit 15 of 16 shots from the free-throw line for the Trail Blazers, who outscored the Grizzlies 38-22 in the fourth quarter.
Portland’s Anfernee Simons scored 26 points and Jerami Grant added 18 before exiting in the third quarter with concussion-like symptoms. Jusuf Nurkic left early in the first quarter after aggravating an ongoing calf problem.
The Trail Blazers, who opened a three-game road trip, won their fourth in five games.
42 points
8 years old
10 assists
5 threeDame down 30+ for 5th straight game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IDvMayxgAD
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2023
Ja Morant collected 32 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost six of their past seven games. They also saw their eight-game home winning streak come to an end.
Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded 18 points, seven rebounds and six blocks and Desmond Bane added 17 points for Memphis.
Memphis’ Danny Green scored three points in 10 minutes of play in his season debut. The three-time NBA champion has been sidelined since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his left knee while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
Simons made a step-back jumper and a pair of free throws and Drew Eubanks added a dunk to give the Trail Blazers a 106-105 lead with 3:19 left in the fourth quarter. Lillard added a 3-pointer to help Portland pull away.
Lillard sank a 3-pointer to tie the game at 67-67 before Morant scored seven straight points to spark a 10-0 run by Memphis. However, Portland cut the deficit to six late in the third quarter.
The Trail Blazers escaped from a 12-point, first-quarter hole and grabbed a two-point advantage in the second before Memphis countered with a late surge. Ziaire Williams capped the stretch by hitting a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper in the final minute to give the Grizzlies a 57-52 lead at halftime.
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