Damian Lillard breaks career and franchise three-point record in Portland Trail Blazers win over Orlando Magic

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Orlando Magic, giving them a much-needed win.

The Portland Trail Blazers put an end to their three-game losing streak by defeating the Orlando Magic, 115-112 . As the final score suggests, the win wasn’t without its drama. Not only did the Magic take an 11-point lead to start the third quarter, but several missed late-game Blazers free throws and clock malfunctions gave Orlando a chance to tie with .9 seconds left.

But hey, a win’s a win. And hopefully this one gets the Blazers back on track following their brief skid.

Of all the Trail Blazers, Damian LIllard shined brightest tonight. His 10 three-pointers, including six in the third quarter to bring Portland back on top, were good for both a career-high and franchise record. This new milestone is coming just days after passing Terry Porter for third on the Blazers’ all-time scoring list.

LIllard finished the game with 41 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. This is Lillard’s second 41-point performance against the Magic this season in as many matchups.

Nik Stauskas also had a solid performance tonight from beyond the arc. His five triples in eight attempts helped give him 18 points. Through the first half, his stellar shooting, high-energy, and crafty work inside kept the Blazers in the game.

Dame and Sauce’s shooting bolstered the Blazers percentage from three. As a team, they shot 19/39. While others like CJ McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless, and Seth Curry have yet to get back on track, the club’s percentage from deep tonight was a welcomed sight.

Hopefully the rest of the team can follow suit.

But while Lillard had a career-night and three-pointers found the net, some of the other Blazers problems from the skid still remain.

Most obvious, Portland’s defensive woes. Orlando rank 25th in points per game at 106.1 on 45.4% shooting. Tonight, they scored 112 on 51.9%.

For some reason, the Trail Blazers just don’t look aggressive on the other side of the ball. They go under nearly every screen, they dare nearly everyone to shoot, and they’re lacking the staunch interior presence they had to begin the season.

Sometimes Dame and CJ will lock into their match. Tonight, for example, Lillard was a pest on Evan Fournier one possession where he knocked the ball out Fournier’s hands several times and chased him out to the half-court line. But these types of efforts are inconsistent.

It almost feels like they go for an occasional homerun play to make up for all the mediocrity before.

The other problem still remaining: a tendency to resort to hero ball after the first-half.

Usually, we see some of the best, most cohesive Portland basketball in the first quarter of games: new plays, lots of movement, tons of passes.

And then, before long, we see the offense devolve into a brand of hero-ball that relies on high pick-and-roll and Lillard or McCollum to make something happen. There is nothing wrong with this – Dame and CJ are best with the ball in their hands – but there is something wrong with the frequency they’re running these simple, freeform sets.

Without consistent shooting from the wings and Nurkic being a non-shooting big (even though he hit a three tonight), defenses collapse onto the star backcourt duo. With teammates that limit how much the club can space the floor and allow their guards to create, Portland should look to manufacture more consistent offense through unique play-calling – especially plays of the handoff variety, to get Lillard and McCollum running downhill toward the basket.

But hey, a 3-point win counts just the same as a blowout. Hopefully, though, the Blazers won’t make the next one so close.

Portland takes on the Denver Nuggets on November 30 at 7:30 P.S.T.