Damian Lillard is back in Portland, and the Trail Blazers star delivered a strong first regular-season game since rejoining the team in the summer of 2025. He scored 25 points with six 3-pointers in a 124-83 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. The performance came after roughly 16 months of rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon he sustained with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lillard said he had felt good for months but acknowledged that some people may have been skeptical because they had not seen him on the court. The nine-time All-Star received an extended standing ovation at Moda Center when he addressed the crowd in a pregame speech. "It was a lot of love. The fans showed a lot of love," Lillard said. "I think it's no secret the relationship between myself and our fans and the city of Portland."
New addition Ja Morant, who finished with 14 points in his Trail Blazers debut, was impressed by his teammate's return. "For me today it was, the guy hasn't played in 18 months, and he comes out and delivers the way he did for us," Morant said. "Special, man."
Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million deal to rejoin Portland in July 2025, after spending two seasons with the Bucks. He spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Blazers. "Coming back off of a major injury, getting back healthy, and making it to this day... it just felt great to be embraced and welcomed," Lillard said.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing