Austin Rivers, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers. (Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Austin Rivers had no answer for being able to guard Damian Lillard in Game 5.
Even though his Denver Nuggets won Game 5 in double overtime, Austin Rivers was completely baffled by trying to guard Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard because nothing worked.
Lillard scored a game-high 55 points in Tuesday night’s loss at Denver. Rivers commented to Complex Sports’ Instagram post about Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant being awestruck by what Lillard did on the hardwood. No matter how many hands Rivers tried to put in Lillard’s face, there was really nothing he could do to stop him from scoring. Thankfully, the Nuggets got big buckets.
Rivers’ comment on what it was like to guard Lillard in Game 5 is absolutely an all-timer.
Austin Rivers comments on what it was like to guard Damian Lillard in Game 5
Even if Lillard had his way with Rivers in Game 5, the Nuggets still found a way to take a 3-2 series lead by way of a 147-140 victory. If Denver wins one of its next two games, the Nuggets will face the winner of the No. 2 vs. No. 7 series between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Denver made it to the Western Conference Finals last year.
While Lillard put together one heck of an individual performance, we have to wonder if next year’s Trail Blazers team looks completely different. Yes, it will be built around its best player, but much of the supporting cast could be on the way out, as well as head coach Terry Stotts. Portland can score with the best of them, but the Trail Blazers continue to be abysmal on the defensive end.
If Rivers had an extra pair of hands, he might have been able to stop Lillard from scoring 55.