Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are at it again.
The Trail Blazers' dynamic backcourt duo put on another clinic Tuesday night in a 112-104 win over the Nets.
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Lillard and McCollum scored 34 points apiece, continuing a tear they’ve been on since the All-Star break.
The two have combined to score 201 points in three games, including a 51-point outburst from Lillard against Golden State on Feb. 19. McCollum, who battled injuries his first two seasons, is looking like a front-runner to become Most Improved Player this season.
And it's not as though they are putting up meaningless numbers. The Trail Blazers are 29-27 and hold the seventh playoff spot in the Western Conference after winning five games in a row. Not bad for a team that lost four of its starters from last season.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. There have been plenty of blown leads this season — and there was almost another one against the Nets — but those blown leads are now turning into wins.
“We grew from that and we’re turning into a bunch that knows how to win games down the stretch,” McCollum told NBA TV after the game.
And they’re pretty fun to watch, too.
Stud of the Night
DeMarcus Cousins had another big night. The Kings big man scored 39 points on 14-of-24 shooting in a 114-110 win over the Nuggets.
Dud of the Night
The entire Pelicans starting lineup earned this award. The five combined for just 32 points, with no one scoring more than nine, as the Pels lost 109-89 to the Wizards. Anthony Davis managed the nine points (albeit with 20 rebounds) after his 59-point performance Sunday.
Tweet of the Night
The de facto dunk contest winner showed he can get up in the game, too.
Aaron Gordon, back at it again. https://t.co/5MmjguhMg4
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 24, 2016
Looking ahead
Warriors (50-5) at Heat (32-24), 7:30 p.m. ET: Miami has come out of the All-Star break looking like Eastern Conference contenders, even without Chris Bosh. It has won three in a row; of course, getting No. 4 won’t be easy.