Damian Lillard's string of 230 consecutive double-figure scoring games came to an end on Wednesday night.
The All-Star could only manage nine points on 2-for-12 shooting from the field in the Portland Trail Blazers' 114-106 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
MORE: The Raptors are kryptonite for opposing NBA All-Stars
Fred VanVleet was Toronto's primary defender on Lillard, holding him scoreless as the Portland star went 0-for-4 from the field with VanVleet guarding him. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Terrence Davis came off the bench and spent time trying to slow Lillard down, even picking him up full court through the game.
After the game, Lillard talked about the Raptors' suffocating defence on him throughout the night and what other teams have done to try and slow him down this season.
"It's the fourth team in a row to come out denying me full-court... box-and-one," Lillard told reporters post-game. "I hardly ever... don't remember ever seeing that many box-and-ones in the NBA.
"I mean, they make me play against a crowd. Even when I'm trying to get downhill and be aggressive, it's literally four people in the paint. The right play is to kick it ahead and kick it out — that was the option they gave me a lot of times.
"It's just what it was."
While Lillard is still averaging 30.5 points per game — good for second in the league behind James Harden (38.2) — it still hasn't translated into wins for Portland. The Trail Blazers currently sit 13th in the Western Conference with a 4-8 record.
Lillard, however, is keeping a cool head knowing that there's still plenty of basketball to be played in 2019-20.
"I don't really get concerned," Lillard continued. "I get frustrated sometimes just from losing games, especially games that we're in.
"If we was getting blown out you know I'd properly be upset about that but it wouldn't be the same feeling. You're in every game and down the stretch is when it's time to win a game we don't do things necessary to win.
"So I think it's just frustrating but I mean... it's early in the season. There's a lot of games to be played, so I'm always optimistic for that reason."
Portland will look to get back in the win column on Saturday night when they take on the Spurs in San Antonio.
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.
