NBA: Damian Lillard with three-man record at Blazers victory – Bucks gild mega-comeback

The Trail Blazers, led by the brand-new Damian Lillard, pulverize the franchise triple records (here you can find Lillard’s highlights in the video) – and sit even further behind the eighth place Grizzlies after the victory against the Nuggets. The Milwaukee Bucks secure first place in the east with a monster comeback, the Suns remain unbeaten and the Pelicans have to put up a hard damper in the fight for the playoffs.

For Zion Williamson and Co. there is a lot of trouble against the Kings. Bogdan Bogdanovic sets a new career best (here you can find the highlights of the Serb).

Sacramento Kings (29-39) – New Orleans Pelicans (29-39) 140:125 (BOXSCORE)

• The Kings made 49 points in the first quarter, setting a franchise record. The old record was just 46 points, Sacramento managed four times, most recently in March 2001 against the Houston Rockets. The main person responsible for the explosion was Bogdan Bogdanovic, who after his 1/15 performance against the Mavs scored 19 points in the first twelve minutes with almost perfect throwing yield (7/8 FG, 5/6 triple).
• The Serb stayed hot afterwards, even if the Pelicans now guarded him a little better. In the end there was still a career high of 35 points (13/20 FG, 6/9 triple). In addition to the shooting guard, De’Aaron Fox (30, 12/21 FG, 10 assists) also knew how to please, which New Orleans never got a grip on. Harrison Barnes contributed another 22 points to the win.
• New Orleans, for its part, hit over 60 percent of the field for a long time (57 percent in the end), but the poor defense of the three (16/33) and some unnecessary offensive rebounds could not be compensated for with a grand offensive. In the fourth quarter there was no more uplifting, the Kings easily won over the finish line.
• Zion Williamson was again used cautiously. The rookie was initially unstoppable in the pick’n’roll as a rolling player from the Kings. A stat for the first half: The Pelicans took 14 attempts near the basket, all 14 went through the trap. Williamson ended the game with 24 points (10/12 FG) in 22 minutes, making Brandon Ingram (24, 8/14) the best scorer in the Pels. JJ Redick (18) turned five threes. Lonzo Ball (9, 11 assists) narrowly missed a double-double.

Here are the highlights of the game between the Kings and Pelicans.

Phoenix Suns (30-39) – Indiana Pacers (42-27) 114:99 (BOXSCORE)

• A series had to break. In the duel of two teams still unbeaten in Orlando, the Phoenix Suns ultimately prevailed and can continue to hope for the first playoff participation since 2010. Phoenix jumps to victory in tenth place in the west and is only 1.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers.
• Phoenix got off to a much better start and escaped early with a 17-0 run. Indiana recovered only slowly, but the former Suns forward TJ Warren breathed the Pacers back to life with seven points in a row. By the break, the Pacers were back on four points.
• The Suns moved away a bit after the move, but there was a setback when Devin Booker picked up his fifth foul early on. Malcolm Brogdon finally equalized the game after a long time. The Pacers even briefly took the lead, but a 24: 3 run by Cameron Payne (15, 6/9 FG) and Dario Saric (16) ultimately brought the Suns onto the winning road.
• The best scorers of the Suns were nevertheless Deandre Ayton (23, 10 rebounds) and Booker (20, 10 assists), in addition rookie Cameron Johnson (14, 12 boards) got a double-double. Brogdon (25, 4/6 threes, 6 assists) was the hardest-working point scorer in the Pacers, and Victor Oladipo (16) had some good moments in the final section. Warren (16, 7/20 FG) could only partially build on the strong ideas from the first games against his ex-team.

Here are the highlights of the game between the Suns and Pacers.

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