Lillard’s start has been so dismal that Wednesday’s shaky 10-of-27 shooting (37 percent) is his third best of the campaign. But the last shot was the most painful, as Lillard missed a 3-pointer at the end of the team’s 107-104 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n
“I took a peek over at CJ (McCollum), but it looked like I’d get a clean look after I came off the screen,” Lillard said afterward. “If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t even use a screen. I’d just go right into it.”<\/p>\n
The 26-point effort was the highest of the season for Lillard, who is averaging 19.5 points this season after putting up 28.8 per game last season and 30.0 the previous campaign.<\/p>\n
Portland is back at home briefly for games against the Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday after an 0-3 road trip.<\/p>\n
“It’s a disappointing trip, in my opinion, because I felt like we could have won every single game,” first-year Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “Every single game<\/a> I feel like we had a chance and could have won them all and don’t win one.<\/p>\n “So it is a disappointing trip. I’m pretty sure all those guys in the locker room probably feel the same way. But we can’t get \u2018em back, the schedule just keeps going.”<\/p>\n Norman Powell (season-best 23 points) and McCollum (21) joined Lillard in topping the 20-point mark against Cleveland.<\/p>\n The Pacers have won back-to-back games following a 1-6 start.<\/p>\n \u26a1 Stormin' Norman \u26a1<\/p>\n 17.8PPG Our @CarMax<\/a> Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com\/xWBTuyeybd<\/a><\/p>\n — Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 5, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
41.7% from 3
50.9% from the field <\/p>\n