Lillard hits 8 3-pointers, ties NBA playoff record for half

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) sets a screen against Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers as Rivers fouls Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Monday, May 24, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney) (Joe Mahoney, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

DENVER – Damian Lillard hit eight 3-pointers, including one from nearly half-court, to tie an NBA playoff record for most in a half.

Lillard was 8 of 11 from long range against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 on Monday night on his way to a 32-point first-half. His eight 3s matched the mark held by Toronto's Vince Carter, who hit that many in the first half against Philadelphia on May 11, 2001.

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Led by Lillard, Portland is putting on another stellar 3-point display and finished 12 of 18 for the half. The Blazers hit 19 3-pointers in Game 1, which was a franchise-best for a playoff game.

Lillard's most remarkable shot was when he drained a shot while standing on the Nuggets' logo near half-court. It was listed as a 37-footer on the play list.

The playoff record for 3-pointers in a game is 11 by Golden State's Klay Thompson at Oklahoma City on May 28, 2016.

Lillard had 10 3-pointers against Oklahoma City on April 23, 2019.

Denver held a 73-61 lead at halftime.

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