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Damian Lillard · One month before he became the eighth player in NBA history to score 70 points in a game, Damian Lillard decided to give 60 a try first. After he had dropped 50 on the Cleveland Cavaliers two weeks earlier, the seven-time All-Star did not take it any easier on the Utah Jazz in yet another scoring performance for the ages. Lillard hit his usual barrage of 3-pointers — this time 9 in 15 attempts — but also attacked the rim repeatedly, converting multiple close-range buckets on strong drives to the basket, including an acrobatic reverse layup and another in which he cleared a path through the lane by badly fooling Collin Sexton with a deceptive behind-the-back dribble. Lillard shot 21 for 29 for 60 points, becoming the fifth player in league history to have at least four 60-point games in the regular season. Lillard — who averaged a career-best 32.2 points per game in 2022-23 — added seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals in the 134-124 Portland Trail Blazers win on January 25, 2023, becoming the first NBA player to produce three 60-5-5 games. · State of Mint