Lillard's firepower showed no signs of slowing down. He scored another 11 points and 3 assists in the quarter, bringing his personal total to 41 points after three quarters!
His previous Playoff single-game scoring record had been 40 points, set last year. With only three quarters played, he had already broken his personal Playoff single-game scoring record!
If this continued, he had a great chance of scoring 50-plus and breaking the Trail Blazers' franchise Playoff scoring record!
Under his leadership, the Trail Blazers continued to battle the Pelicans evenly in this quarter.
At the end of three quarters, the score was 92-90, with the Pelicans ahead.
The Trail Blazers were really going to trade blows with the Pelicans until the very end tonight.
"No matter the result, Lillard and this Trail Blazers team deserve respect for their performance."
During the break between the third and fourth quarters, O'Neal admitted that he had been proven wrong.
Barkley agreed with him.
The Pelicans had the strongest defense in the league—arguably without equal.
For the Trail Blazers to score 90 points in three quarters against that level of defensive intensity, it was not just luck. The players' drive and willingness to fight also could not be ignored.
They had played a game truly worthy of respect tonight.
At the Start of the Fourth Quarter, both teams still had their starters playing alongside their benches.
Collins had performed brilliantly as a surprise weapon in the second quarter, so Stevens had made defensive adjustments specifically for him.
Collins was basically left without any shooting opportunity.
But no one had expected Anthony, who had barely scored before, to erupt during this stretch.
He first seized an opportunity on the perimeter and hit an Outside three-pointer, then cut to the basket and knocked down a Mid Range