Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard gets drug tested after dropping career-high 71 points in win over Rockets

Seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard group a franchise grounds erstwhile he scored a career-best 71 points successful nan Portland Trail Blazers’ 131-114 triumph complete nan Houston Rockets connected Sunday night, but nan celebrations were trim short erstwhile instantly aft nan crippled he had to taxable to a supplier test. 

The crowd astatine nan Moda Center collapsed retired successful "MVP" chants aft Lillard, 32, collapsed his ain franchise people of 61 points and tied Donovan Mitchell for nan astir points successful a crippled this season. 

Portland Trail Blazers defender Damian Lillard, center, is doused by teammates aft mounting franchise and profession highs pinch 71 points during an NBA hoops crippled against nan Houston Rockets successful Portland, Oregon, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.  (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

However, nan celebrations would person to hold until aft Lillard, who is amazingly acrophobic of needles, had to springiness a blood-drawn supplier trial – a first successful his career. 

DAMIAN LILLARD FREESTYLES IN TRAIL BLAZERS' MUSIC VIDEO AFTER BEING STUCK ON PLANE FOR SEVEN HOURS

"Honestly, I was for illustration ‘are y’all serious?’ Lillard said of his guidance to nan supplier test. 

"I did nan urine trial yesterday and they backed it up pinch nan blood-draw coming aft nan crippled – that’s really nan first clip successful my profession being tested aft a game. And past speech from that, they cognize that I’m frightened of needles."

Damian Lillard, #0 of nan Portland Trail Blazers, drives against nan Houston Rockets successful nan first 4th astatine nan Moda Center connected Feb. 26, 2023 successful Portland, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I cognize I sewage a batch of tattoos, but erstwhile you’re doing nan humor draw, it’s different than tattoos. But it brought maine down from up here," Lillard said motioning pinch his hand, "to nan floor. All nan measurement until it was done and past erstwhile I was finished, I was for illustration ‘alright, I sewage that retired nan way.’" 

Lillard’s stellar nighttime marked nan eighth-most points scored successful a crippled successful NBA history. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"It really, really was a masterful performance," Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said aft nan game. "It was a portion of art. That was incredible."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.