Damian Lillard didn’t need much to get fired up on this one.
The Portland Trail Blazers star, back after missing all of last season with his Achilles injury, has looked like himself again lately, stringing together steady 20-point nights and flashing the kind of “Dame Time” stretch that has long defined him. But when the Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks crossed a line, Lillard made sure everyone knew it.
The moment came after Brooks was called for stepping on the sideline while pump-faking against a Lillard contest. Even after the whistle, Brooks kept the play alive and tried a 3-pointer. As Lillard reached out to bother the shot, Brooks extended his foot in what looked like an attempt to step on Lillard’s Achilles.
Lillard immediately took exception and got right in Brooks’ face. Referees and Blazers coaches jumped in fast, getting between the two before the situation could boil over.
For Brooks, the flashpoint fit the reputation. He’s long been one of the league’s biggest irritants, the kind of player who seems to find himself in the middle of something every so often, whether it’s a scuffle with Draymond Green or an ejection for a flagrant foul.
This one carried extra weight, though, because of what Lillard has already been through. After working so hard to return from the Achilles injury that cost him all of last season, it made sense that he reacted strongly to what Brooks did. Dame came away unhurt, and the confrontation stopped there.
In Other News...
Damian Lillard Had Every Reason To Explode Over Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks managed to turn a routine stoppage into one of those moments that instantly grabs everyones attention. During a game, the Phoenix Suns wing appeared to try to step on Damian Lillards Achilles after a whistle, and Lillard reacted immediately by confronting him before referees and coaches stepped in to keep it from getting any worse. Lillard was not injured, but the sequence still had the kind of edge that can linger long after the possession is over.
For Portland fans, it was another reminder of how quickly things can get heated when Lillard is involved in a physical matchup. He has always carried himself with a calm, steady presence, so when he goes straight at an opponent like that, it says plenty about how serious the moment felt. The incident ended without further escalation, but it left plenty of room for questions about what Brooks was trying to do and how the league will view the exchange. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Backcourt Takes Another Hit After Vt Krej Scare
Vt Krejs night ended in a hurry late in the third quarter against the Suns, and the sight of him leaving the arena on crutches with a protective boot only deepened the concern around Portlands backcourt. The Trail Blazers were already dealing with multiple injuries in that area, so another setback there is the last thing they needed as the season moves along.
The immediate issue now is the uncertainty around how long Krej will be out, with the team still waiting to learn more about the fracture to his lower left leg or ankle and whether surgery will be part of the recovery plan. For a Blazers group trying to piece together guard minutes on the fly, even a short absence would be a problem, and this one could linger well beyond that. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Brooks Is Giving Suns Fans The Wrong Kind Of Headlines
Dillon Brooks managed to turn a regular-season meeting with Portland into the kind of night that lingers long after the final buzzer. After a whistle, he kicked the back of Damian Lillards left leg, setting off a brief confrontation between the two before Lillard answered the moment the old-fashioned way, by getting back to work and finishing at the rim with Brooks in the picture.
The Blazers walked away with a 132-119 win, and Lillards 25 points helped make sure the on-court response mattered more than the post-whistle heat. Brooks still finished with 15 points for Phoenix, but the bigger takeaway for Portland was how quickly the game tilted from irritation to control, with Lillard making sure the last memorable play belonged to him. [Read more 🡒]