With a 41 point game on Monday, CJ McCollum led the Portland Trail Blazers to a victory over the Orlando Magic, tying a remarkable record in the process.
In Monday night’s win over the Orlando Magic, CJ McCollum was the best version of himself. He led the team in points while shooting 6-12 from three-point range. McCollum’s deadly three-point shooting will mark his name down in history with another Portland Trail Blazers record.
According to Blazers beat reporter Casey Holdahl, McCollum tied Blazer legend Damon Stoudamire as the only Trail Blazers to make at least three three-pointers in ten consecutive games.
CJ McCollum has made at least three three-pointers in each of the last 10 games, tying Damon Stoudamire's franchise mark
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) March 3, 2020
Damon Stoudamire played eight seasons for the Blazers and was a big reason for the success of the late 90’s and early 2000’s Blazer teams. Stoudamire recently made an appearance at the Moda Center just over a week ago for the Blazers “2000’s night,” which was part of the Blazers five decade-themed nights the organization had this season to honor the former Trail Blazers legends.
McCollum holds other Trail Blazers records such as the most points in a single quarter. He accomplished that feat in a win over the Bulls in 2018 when he torched Bulls defenders for 28 points in the first quarter. McCollum would go on to score 50 points in the game.
CJ will have a chance to pass Stoudamire and set the record outright when the Blazers take on the Washington Wizards at home in their next game. McCollum has played nicely with Damian Lillard sidelined with injury, however, rumors are that McCollum may have his trusted backcourt sidekick on the court next to him for that game on Wednesday night.
Although the Blazers are only 2-4 in the six games they have played without Lillard, McCollum has stepped up into Lillard’s role in several of those games. McCollum is averaging just under 34 points per game through the six game stretch and more impressively, CJ has dished just under 9 assists per game during Lillard’s absence. McCollum has averaged 22.5 points and 4.2 assists this season, so the uptick in points in assists without Lillard on the court is a major reason that the Blazers are still hanging around in the race for the final playoff spot in the western conference.
On Wednesday night, as CJ McCollum goes for the Trail Blazers record of eleven consecutive games with at least three three pointers, he will be matched up with a Wizards backcourt who struggles immensely on the defensive end. Bradley Beal and former Trail Blazer Shabazz Napier will likely pick up the defensive assignment on McCollum.
If I had to bet, I would put a lot of money on CJ McCollum setting the record against the Wizards.