Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard Continues Hot Streak, Dominates Atlanta Hawks

The Portland Trail Blazers aren't having a particularly memorable season, but their star Damian Lillard certainly isn't to blame. The six-time All Star had yet another giant game Monday night, posting 42 points, six assists, and two rebounds in a 129-125 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

DAME D.O.L.L.A mixtape: nothing but the hits pic.twitter.com/BJpcmzv1ET
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 31, 2023

Lillard hit 10 of his 12 field goal attempts, including five of 12 from three, and sunk all 17 of his free throws. It was his fifth 40+ point game over his last 10 appearances, a scalding hot streak in which he has averaged 38.8 points per game with a deadly .533 field goal percentage.

Lillard's success this season goes beyond his recent run: he's managing personal bests in points per game (30.4) and true shooting percentage (.640) over his 38 starts. Nonetheless, the Trail Blazers are a mediocre 24-26 and 12th in the Western Conference. There's a chance they can fight their way through a crowded field to sneak into the play-in tournament, but even that isn't likely to lead to an extended postseason trip. Tragically, Lillard's career year may be all for naught.

The Trail Blazers travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies on Wednesday.