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Every Blazers fan had this game marked on their calendars. In the most hyped game of the young season, polarizing figure Lamarcus Aldridge returned to Portland for the first time since signing with the San Antionio Spurs. After playing 9 seasons as a Blazer, Lamarcus was now the enemy.
Sadly the Blazers couldn’t pull through partially due to bad free throw shooting (14-23). Despite the disappointing result I found the game a lot of fun to watch and think the Blazers showed themselves off well on national television. The Spurs have been one of the elite teams in the league for over a decade straight now and the Blazers put up a good fight.
Here's a compilation of the post-game reaction from the world of sports media, the players themselves and more. The list of will continue to be updated throughout the night as the conversation progresses.
Post-Game Reaction
Damian Lillard Rips Thumbnail
Lillard said half of his right thumbnail ripped off, said he was shooting with four fingers
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 12, 2015
Lillard has a wrap around his right thumb
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 12, 2015
"Just real sensitive when I dribbled the ball. So I was shooting off four fingers." - Lillard on losing half his right thumbnail.
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) November 12, 2015
"I’ll treat it & try to just have it in the best condition that I can for when we got to play. I’m going to try to ignore it" -Dame on thumb
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) November 12, 2015
Here's Damian LIllard explaining how he lost half his right thumbnail. pic.twitter.com/D6kVQXhnmY
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) November 12, 2015
Reactions to Lamarcus
.@aldridge_12 shared his thoughts on his return to Portland after the game. https://t.co/OAyIIzmTvB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 12, 2015
Weirdest thing for LA tonight? "Not driving to the arena, coming in a bus. Then coming in this locker room, I'd never seen it before."
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) November 12, 2015
"It might have been 70-30, cheers to boos." -- Aldridge
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) November 12, 2015
Asked Parker if he's ever been a part of a game like that, so much emotion involving Aldridge his response: "It's worse in Europe" #Spurs
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) November 12, 2015
Aldridge said a brief hello to owner Paul Allen and then went to some high-fives from his teammates in the locker room.
— Brandon Sprague (@BrandonSprague) November 12, 2015
Also, FWIW, Terry Stotts said that he and LaMarcus Aldridge did not cross paths tonight.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) November 12, 2015
"Not really... Lamarcus coming back is a big story but for players and coaches it was abt playing Spurs" Stotts on emotion of LA return
— Brandon Sprague (@BrandonSprague) November 12, 2015
Spurs Leonard says team definitely wanted to win for Aldridge "so he doesn't think he made a mistake" #RipCity #CSNBlazers
— Chris Burkhardt (@CBurkhardtCSN) November 12, 2015
Gerald Henderson Makes His Debut
Gerald Henderson said he hadn't really practiced with any of the guys he played with tonight.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 12, 2015
Gerald Henderson says he doesnt care what his role is moving forward. Figures if he plays well he will be on court
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) November 12, 2015
Stats
Damian Lillard becomes only the 2nd Trail Blazer to score 20+ points in each of the first nine games in team history (Clyde Drexler, 1988).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 12, 2015
Damian Lillard has now scored 20 points or more in nine straight games, marking the longest such streak of his career (8, twice).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 12, 2015
CJ McCollum has scored 15 points or more in all nine games this season. That already matches his regular season total from 2014-15.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 12, 2015
CJ McCollum has recorded more games of 20+ points this year (4) than the rest of his career combined in the regular season (3).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 12, 2015