Damian Lillard scored 42 points against Miami on October 27, 2018, and somehow the Blazers still lost. After falling behind by 19, Portland stormed back and briefly took the lead in the fourth quarter—but the Heat had the final answer. Watch the original full-game highlights below, then revisit how this frustrating one got away.
Historical update: Dame scores 42, but Miami finishes stronger
Updated November 2026: Portland fell to the Miami Heat 120–111 on October 27, 2018, dropping to 3–2 early in a season that would turn out much better than this particular evening. The Blazers trailed 57–42 at halftime and were down by as many as 19 points. Not exactly the start anybody had in mind.
Damian Lillard did almost everything he could to rescue the game: 42 points on 15-for-28 shooting, including five three-pointers, plus seven rebounds and six assists. CJ McCollum added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Zach Collins contributed 13 points off the bench. But Jusuf Nurkić was limited to five points, and Portland shot just 42% from the field.
The Blazers finally made their move in the second half. They cut the deficit to 89–79 after three quarters, then tied the game 96–96 on back-to-back CJ three-pointers. Portland even pushed ahead 106–103 late in the fourth. It looked like the comeback might actually work. Unfortunately, basketball games have a nasty habit of continuing after you get excited.
Miami responded with a 17–5 closing run. Goran Dragić led the Heat with 28 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and connected on a crucial late three. Josh Richardson also hit a big three in the closing stretch. Miami finished the job while Portland’s offense sputtered.
There was some history on the other side, too. Dwyane Wade, playing his final NBA season, came off the bench to score 19 points, including four three-pointers. Kelly Olynyk added 19, and Hassan Whiteside grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked six shots. Yes, that Hassan Whiteside—the same center who would play for Portland the following season. And yes, the six blocks were every bit as irritating as they sound.
Looking back, the loss was an early reminder that a big night from Dame didn’t automatically solve everything. Portland would go on to finish 53–29 and reach the 2019 Western Conference Finals, but there were plenty of frustrating nights along the way. For the previous game, revisit our Blazers–Magic highlights from Dame’s 41-point performance. For the full statistics, see the official NBA box score.