LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. – Damian Lillard tied his career high with 61 points, willing Portland to a 134-131 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night that moved the Trail Blazers into eighth place in the Western Conference.
The Blazers will earn a spot in the play-in series with a victory Thursday vs. Brooklyn.
'Our work ain't done yet but we're fighting for it," Lillard said.
Lillard made nine three-pointers in his sixth 50-point game of the season. He's the 12th player in NBA history to score 50 points in back-to-back games after dropping 51 on the 76ers on Sunday.
He scored in every way imaginable, from well beyond the three-point line, on blow-by drives, short jumpers and at the foul line. Lillard finished 17-for-32 from the floor and 9-for-17 from beyond the arc while making all 18 free throw attempts.
Milwaukee 126, Washington 113: Brook Lopez scored 24 points and the Bucks won after star Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected in the second quarter for headbutting Moritz Wagner. Wagner took a charge from Antetokounmpo, who didn't like the call in what had become a physical game early on.
San Antonio 123, Houston 105: The Spurs kept alive their chance of becoming the first NBA team to make 23 consecutive playoff appearances.
Phoenix 130, Philadelphia 117: Devin Booker scored 35 points and the Suns protected their playoff hopes by beating the 76ers, improving to 7-0 in the NBA restart.
