Full Breakdown
Lillard Returns, Teams Up with Ja Morant in Preseason Opener
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Portland Trail Blazers opened their preseason with a 123-118 win over the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center. The game marked Damian Lillard’s first appearance in a Trail Blazers uniform since his March 2023 trade to Milwaukee and his first on-court action after missing the 2025-26 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Lillard logged 15 points in 19 minutes, hitting three first-quarter three-pointers. Ja Morant, acquired from Memphis in June, contributed eight points and five assists in his debut.
Background & Context
Lillard spent three seasons with Milwaukee, where injuries and early playoff exits limited his championship pursuit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. He re-signed with Portland in July 2025 and missed the entire following season while rehabbing his Achilles injury. The Blazers’ June trade sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis in exchange for Morant, a two-time All-Star known for explosive drives and scoring at the rim.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Portland 123, Golden State 118.
- Lillard: 15 points (5-of-11 shooting, 3-of-3 from three-point range).
- Morant: 8 points, 5 assists.
- Deni Avdija (Portland): team-high 23 points.
- Warriors’ top scorer: Miles Kelly, 24 points on six three-pointers.
- Portland’s transition offense produced 25 fast-break points, 13 in the first half.
Official Statements & Responses
- “It felt like I was back where I belong, back home,” — Damian Lillard “It felt like I was back where I belong, back home,” — Damian Lillard.
- Head coach Micah Nori, speaking to The Athletic’s Jason Quick, indicated that a Lillard-Morant starting backcourt “doesn’t make sense,” suggesting the pair may need to share ball-handling duties rather than dominate simultaneously.
Why It Matters
Portland entered the preseason after a 42-40 record that secured a playoff berth for the first time in five years. Adding Morant provides a complementary “downhill” threat to Lillard’s perimeter shooting, potentially stretching defenses and creating more open looks for the team’s other shooters. However, both stars are not renowned for defensive impact, leaving the Blazers to address match-up challenges. Balancing the dual playmaking responsibilities will be pivotal to translating preseason chemistry into regular-season success.
What’s Next
The Warriors have three preseason contests remaining before opening their regular season in late October. Portland will continue to evaluate rotations and role assignments as the preseason concludes, aiming to solidify a backcourt configuration that maximizes the talents of Lillard, Morant, and the supporting cast before the schedule officially begins.