Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots the ball past Houston Rockets small forward Jae'Sean Tate (8, left). Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

NBA deflates Damian Lillard's mood after absurd night

By Max Steele | Last updated Feb 27, 2023 1:24 PM ET

After Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard scored 71 points against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, the NBA poked the superstar.

"Are y'all serious?" an irritated Lillard said afterward about the league's random drug test.

The 32-year-old said it was the first drug test he has taken after a game during his 11-season NBA career. Admitting his fear of needles, Lillard said it totally killed his mood.

"It brought me down from [up] here to the floor," he said.

Dame said tonight was the first time he had been blood-draw drug-tested following a game in his entire career.

His full thoughts on it: pic.twitter.com/ZKu5vIKmrd
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 27, 2023

Lillard, who is averaging 32.3 points, has played at an inhuman pace lately. In the four games before his 71-point effort, he scored 26, 39, 40 and 38 points. Last weekend, he won the three-point shooting contest at the All-Star Game as well.

It's been Dame Time for his last 13 games pic.twitter.com/1M76nqixGA
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 27, 2023

Lillard's the only player to score 60+ points and hit 10+ three-pointers in multiple games, yet another reason why he was selected onto the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team last season.

Damian Lillard now joins the only player in history with 60+ points and 10+ three pointers in a game....

Himself pic.twitter.com/ceYVb32Wu9
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 27, 2023

The NBA's "random" drug tests are nothing new. Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell was tested the day after his 71-point outburst earlier this season, and Memphis' Ja Morant complained about his handful of tests this season, too.

On Tuesday night, Lillard looks to continue his epic run against the Warriors, a team he averages nearly 29 points against.

Max Steele

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