Damian Lillard’s return has helped fuel Portland’s 5-1 start, and Monday’s 118-110 road win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets offered another encouraging look at what he still brings to the Blazers.
Lillard finished with 20 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds in 30 minutes, but the bigger takeaway was how he got there. He shot 5-of-11 from the field, 1-of-5 from three and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, and nearly half of Portland’s free-throw attempts came from him. More than anything, he kept getting downhill and into the paint.
That kind of burst matters. After missing all of last season, Lillard’s ability to attack the rim and beat his defender post-Achilles is a strong sign that he can keep producing at a high level for Portland. It also fits cleanly with Deni Avdija’s downhill game and helps cover for the Blazers’ shooting issues.
The three-point shot was off in Denver, but that didn’t stop Lillard from finding ways to score. That’s always been part of what made him such a dangerous scorer, and at 36 he still looks capable of putting points on the board even when the jumper isn’t falling. His 6.8 free-throw attempts per game are right in line with what he posted with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024-25.
Through six games, Lillard is averaging 19.3 points, 4.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds on 40/33/81 shooting splits. The efficiency can still improve, and some rust is expected after the long layoff.
But the bigger question coming into the season was whether he’d still have the speed, burst and agility to separate from defenders. So far, the answer has been yes.
That matters for Portland’s offense, especially with Ja Morant sidelined for most, if not all, of November. Lillard’s presence takes pressure off Avdija and gives the Blazers another creator who can score, set up teammates and operate in Micah Nori’s offense, where he’s mostly off-ball when Morant is healthy.
The Blazers aren’t asking him to carry the same load he once did, and that’s part of why this team looks better. Lillard remains central to the 5-1 start, and he deserves credit for the work it took to get back here.
The recovery picture has already started to change around the league, with players like Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Kevin Durant showing what’s possible after this injury. Right now, Lillard looks like another player trending back toward form.
He’s still getting into the lane, still creating for himself and others, and once the shooting normalizes, Portland’s offense should get another lift.
In Other News...
Blazers Keep Getting Better News From The Damian Lillard Trade
The Damian Lillard trade keeps looking better for Portland, not just because of what the Blazers received in the deal, but because of how the rest of the transaction has played out since. Milwaukee has been trying to navigate an early-season slump after parting with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the ripple effects of the Lillard move have only added to the sense that Portland came out ahead in a major way.
For the Blazers, the return was always about more than one player, and the draft capital attached to the deal has given the franchise more flexibility as it tries to build forward. Milwaukees decision to waive Lillard to create cap room also underscored how much long-term financial maneuvering came with the trade, leaving Portland with a package that keeps gaining value as the Bucks continue to sort through the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Fans May Not Like How Close This Suns Rematch Looks
The Trail Blazers are heading into their rematch with the Suns in a familiar spot for an early-season contender: dealing with injury absences while still trying to keep the momentum rolling. Portland is expected to be without key players Ja Morant and Shaedon Sharpe, which makes the matchup a little trickier on paper, even as the Blazers have opened the season strong and remain the models pick to win.
For fans, the interesting part is how tight this one looks against the betting market. The simulation projections point toward Portland, but they also suggest a game that could stay close enough to test whether the Blazers can keep turning solid starts into actual results. With the Suns back on the schedule, the margin for error feels slim, and the numbers are leaving just enough room for a tense finish. [Read more 🡒]
Sidy Cissoko Is Quietly Solving A Blazers Problem Joe Cronin Bet On
Joe Cronins decision to stand pat on the wing after the offseason has looked a little less risky with each passing game. The Trail Blazers did not go out and chase a replacement for the players they lost, trusting the roster already in place, and Sidy Cissoko has started to look like the kind of internal answer that can make that bet work. The 22-year-old has carved out a real role off the bench, bringing a steadier offensive touch and the kind of defensive versatility Portland can use in a rotation that still has some sorting out to do.
Through the first six games, Cissoko has given the Blazers something beyond a temporary hot stretch. His shooting has improved, his activity on the other end has fit what the team needs, and the minutes he is getting do not feel accidental. Portland is intentionally making room for him, which says plenty about how the staff views his place in the rotation and how much confidence there is that this two-way impact can hold up. [Read more 🡒]