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Damian Lillard Scores 15 in First Game Back From Achilles Tear; Morant Pairing Already Looks Real
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- Damian Lillard Scores 15 in First Game Back From Achilles Tear; Morant Pairing Already Looks Real
It's been a few days since Damian Lillard's actual return to the floor, but the ripple effects are still shaping how people are talking about Portland's season, and that forward-looking conversation is really the story now.
Lillard scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-8 from three, with two steals in 19 minutes during Portland's 123-118 preseason win over Golden State last Wednesday, his first game action since rupturing his left Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs.
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It also marked his first appearance in a Trail Blazers uniform since being traded to Milwaukee back in 2023, after Portland reacquired him from Memphis this past June in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
A First Look at the Lillard-Morant Backcourt
"It felt like I was back where I belong," Lillard said afterward, per NBC Sports . "Back home." The game also doubled as the first look at Portland's new backcourt pairing with Ja Morant, acquired from Memphis in the same offseason window.
Morant finished with eight points, five assists and two steals in his own Blazers debut, though he committed four turnovers and was candid about the adjustment afterward.
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"It's tough because I feel like I'm a natural point guard. I'm not selfish at all, so that's definitely a tough part," Morant said , while still expressing optimism about how the pairing can work with more reps.
Raised Expectations in Portland
Now, several days removed from that debut, the bigger question is what it means heading into the regular season. Head coach Micah Nori has set an ambitious bar for this roster, a top-four seed and real playoff positioning, which is no small target in a loaded Western Conference.
Early analysis suggests Lillard's shooting alone could be the difference-maker Portland didn't get from a trade deadline addition.
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One Blazers-focused outlet argued Lillard's debut alone proved the team didn't need to go out and acquire another shooter, since he's capable of unlocking the offense by himself when healthy.
Damian Lillard's strong return from an Achilles tear alongside Ja Morant is already raising expectations for the Trail Blazers.Soobum Im / Getty Images
The Caution Flag
The caution flag is obvious and worth repeating as the season approaches: Lillard is 36 and still working back from one of the more unforgiving injuries in sports.
Portland has roughly two more weeks of preseason to continue testing lineup combinations before opening night, and how much Nori trusts the Morant-Lillard backcourt in real minutes once the games start counting will be one of the most closely watched storylines in the Western Conference.
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Related: Kyrie Irving Scores 17 Points in Emotional Return From ACL Tear, 586 Days Later
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This story was originally published by Lindy's Sports on Oct 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindy's Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
