CJ McCollum wants to make it clear that crunch time always means Dame Time. The Portland Trail Blazers swingman admitted as much after their huge 125-122 away win over the Miami Heat. He didn't mind that the ball was in Damian Lillard's hands down the stretch. Damian Lillard is, after all, one of the most clutch players in the league with ice water running through his veins.
“Sometimes I might have it going, but he's the closer,” McCollum confirmed after the win by the Blazers (via ESPN).
McCollum did have it going on Thursday night as he exploded for a team-high of 35 points, 21 of which came in the game's first 12 minutes for the Blazers.
The 29-year-old is still slowly getting back his rhythm after missing 25 games with a left mid-foot fracture. He knocked down six of his 14 attempts from deep and was crucial for the Blazers down the stretch as Lillard couldn't get it going against the Heat's defense.
In crunch time though, Lillard ended up finishing what his backcourt partner had started as he was able to get to his spot and was fouled while shooting a three-pointer in Portland's final possession. Dame coolly knocked down all three of his free throws which ultimately sealed the deal for the Blazers' first win in three games.
These two have been partners in crime in Oregon for almost a decade now and it's good to see that they're still on the same page eight seasons in. With McCollum slowly getting back to 100% and Lillard scoring at a career-high rate of 30.1 points per game this season, the Blazers are inching closer to a top-four spot in the West.
With the Los Angeles Lakers struggling due to the twin injuries to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, there is an awareness that the Lakers won't get a top-two seed in the West, creating more uncertainty in the West pecking order. The Blazers have a chance to shake things up.
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