Damian Lillard continued his offensive onslaught on opposing NBA teams on Friday night with the Portland Trail Blazers star torching the Los Angeles Lakers for 48 points. Although it was another incredible performance from one of the best guards in the game today, it came on a night in which the Lakers were honoring Kobe Bryant after his tragic passing last Sunday.

Following the Blazers taking down the Lakers at the Staples Center on Friday night, Lillard spoke with the media about the Lakers honoring Bryant before the game with a touching tribute.

“It's tough from an emotional standpoint, but he's worthy. More than worthy,” Lillard said of Bryant. “That type of love and that type of respect and that type of honor that was given to him in the first game since it happened; it was only right. Compared to what his family has to deal with and what his closest friends have to deal with, us having to honor him in that way and then play a game, it's a small thing. For him being arguably the toughest competitor to ever play the game, I felt like it was only right for us to pay our respects pregame and then go out there and honor him by competing at a higher level, and I thought both teams did that.”

Obviously, Lillard and the Blazers were put into a tough position being the Lakers' first opponent after Bryant's death due to the postponement of the matchup with the L.A. Clippers. The Blazers star reflected on being in that position and how he managed the emotions of the night in Los Angeles.

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“I tried my hardest to calm the emotional part down and just go out there and play,” Lillard said. “I think for both teams, it was a rough start to the game because it's hard to go from being in that type of mental state and watching and listening and then jump into a game and really care.

“For me, I tried to keep my emotions in check and just play the game, have fun and go out there and compete, and that was that.”

It has been rough for the Blazers as they currently sit five games below .500 at 22-27 after getting the best of the Lakers on Friday. Despite their struggles, Lillard has come on strong as of late as he's been nearly unguardable and actually came close to Kobe's career-high point total recently by scoring 60 against the Golden State Warriors.

Lillard is only one of two players with multiple 50-point games this season joining James Harden of the Houston Rockets. The Blazers guard shows no signs of slowing down as he appears determined to turn things around for Portland.