Damian Lillard has flourished in the last month-and-change of this NBA season, dazzling fans and opponents with a string of strong performances throughout this stretch of the season.

On Tuesday night, he capped the night off early with a 37-point outing, shooting 10-of-18 from the field and 8-of-11 from beyond the arc en route to a 111-87 win over the New York Knicks. This was the third 35-plus-point performance in the last four games, as he's made himself noticed by some of the league's analyst, journalists, and pundits.

Even opposing coach Jeff Hornacek sung praise to Lillard, noting he could be in the running for the Most Valuable Player award.

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“I said after I won Rookie of the Year, I said I think I can be MVP in this league,” said Lillard, according to Anne M. Peterson of The Associated Press. “Being in the discussion, it’s an honor to be mentioned, but I don’t look at that and think ‘Oh they mentioned me in the MVP discussion.’ I feel that’s the level of player I can be.”

Even if the likes of his teammate Shabazz Napier marvel at his play, Lillard has had this fierce mentality since coming into the league and after catapulting his Portland Trail Blazers from the low end of the playoff board to third place after eight straight wins, he's slowly building a case for the honor.

The Blazers only have a one-game separation with the fourth-place New Orleans Pelicans and talisman Anthony Davis, who has also thrown his hat in the race for the MVP honors.