LaMarcus Aldridge went for a career-high 44 points in Portland’s 110-105 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, and he was so proud of his big game, he said he was going to keep the ball from it.
“Yeah I am,” Aldridge answered when asked by TNT’s Craig Sager if he was keeping the ball. “This is my eighth ball I got.
“My first two are 30-20 games, my 42-point game … things like that,” Aldridge said of the balls he keeps.
Aldridge held up the ball proudly because he is adding it to his collection.
Sager also asked Aldridge about being an MVP candidate.
“I love it. I work hard every summer, my team believes in me. I’m truly blessed by god and just go do it.”
LaMarcus has really taken his game to another level this season. He’s averaging career-highs in points (24.2), rebounds (11.6), assists (2.9) and free throw percentage (81.6). His 1.9 fouls per game are the lowest of his career, and his 1.7 turnovers per game are his lowest in four seasons. He has really improved across the board.
Aldridge went 15-of-29 from the field, 14-of-17 at the line, and he scored the final 15 points of the game for the Blazers. He also had 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. It’s hard to beat that, though Durant has topped the point total 4 times (4!!) in the past three weeks.
