Malone Labels Lillard’s Game 5 Performance as “Superhuman”

The Denver Nuggets survived a 55-point night from Damian Lillard to take a 3-2 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5. Down the stretch of Tuesday’s game, Lillard put on a masterful clutch performance.

After the game, The Oregonian’s Geoffrey Arnold highlighted coach Michael Malone praise of Lillard’s incredible output.

“Damian Lillard was superhuman,” Malone said after the game.

Malone went on to explain that he did not want to risk fouling Lillard in the closing moments of the contest.

“If a guy catches (the ball) inside the 3-point line - a guys catches it with his back to the basket, those are times when you can look to take a foul,” Malone said after the game. “Damian Lillard is like Chris Paul, he’s been around the block. He knows what time it is. If you try to take that foul, my concern is him making the three and giving up a four-point play.

The Blazers and Nuggets return to action in the Moda Center on Thursday. You can read the full story from Arnold at The Oregonian.