NBA

NBA Playoffs 2019: Portland Trail Blazers' guard Damian Lillard earns Player of the Day

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The 2019 NBA Playoffs are heating up!

Every day from now until the end of the postseason, our NBA.com Staff will bring you one top performer following the completion of the playoff games on that day.

You'll be able to see the best performance and three honourable mentions from each day, while also having access to all prior "Player of the Night" files, as we see who can tally the most honours these playoffs.

Today's player of the day is...

Damian Lillard

Team's result: Trail Blazers 118, Thunder 115 (Blazers win series 4-1)

Stat line: 50 points (17-33 FG, 10-18 3PT), 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

Words can't describe the type of performance that Lillard put together in this one.

The All-Star point guard had 34 points in the first half to get his team going. He moved the ball when he needed to in the fourth quarter and when the game was on the line, he called his own number.

Lillard's step-back, 37-foot game-winning 3-pointer in Paul George's face ended the series, earning him Player of the Night.


Honourable Mention:

Kawhi Leonard

Team's result: Raptors 115, Magic 96 (Raptors win series 4-1)

Stat line: 27 points (8-11 FG, 5-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Kawhi was near-perfect in the Raptors' series-clinching win.

His 27 points were extremely efficient, coming on just 11 shots. He dominated this game from the get-go, just as he dominated the Magic the entire series.


Joel Embiid

Team's result: 76ers 122, Nets 100 (76ers win series 4-1)

Stat line: 23 points (9-18 FG, 2-5 3PT), 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Embiid did all of his damage in just 20 minutes and 22 seconds in the 76ers' Game 5 win to clinch the series.

He was dominant in short stint of playing time, which was exactly what Philly needed. He made an impact, then was able to rest up for the next series.


Paul George

Team's result: Trail Blazers 118, Thunder 115 (Blazers win series 4-1)

Stat line: 36 points (14-20 FG, 3-8 3PT), 9 rebounds, 3 assists

George did what he could to keep his team alive.

He scored 36 points on 70.0% shooting from the field but ultimately came up short.

Previous winners

April 14 - Stephen Curry

April 15 - Giannis Antetokounmpo

April 16 - Lou Williams

April 17 - Kawhi Leonard

April 18 - James Harden

April 19 - Ben Simmons

April 20 - Russell Westbrook

April 21 - Joel Embiid

April 22 - Kawhi Leonard

April 23 - Giannis Antetokounmpo

Author(s)
Kyle Irving Photo

Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.