Damian Lillard came up with a big night to help the Trail Blazers beat the Pelicans Friday, but he almost didn’t make it to the end of the game.
Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins clotheslined the Portland guard midway through the fourth quarter, sending Lillard spiraling to the floor. Perkins was ejected and was not happy about it.
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He was visibly upset when he was made to leave the floor after being hit with a Flagrant-2 foul — despite being the offending party. He reportedly had to be held back.
Lillard finished with 33 points, as the Trail Blazers held off the Pelicans for a 117-112 win, despite blowing a 20-point lead.
Between Perkins on Friday and Markieff Morris on Thursday, we may be seeing a return to the rough-and-tumble days of the 1980s and '90s. At least, until the league starts handing out fines and suspensions.