[81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. Damian Lillard spoke about the Blazers trading CJ McCollum pic.twitter.com/KGgKUasAex. McCollum is still finding his rhythm since returning to the Trail Blazers lineup. [82] McCollum also helps foster local youths' interest in journalists through an initiative called CJ's Press Pass; it grants aspiring journalists access to postgame news conferences and provides them the opportunity to attend events with McCollum, to receive personalized mentorship from members of the media, and to have their work published. That's borderline laughable but, as with real estate's main rule, location dictates that's just how it goes sometimes for small-market stars. "@CJMcCollum speaks with the crew after Portland's win. The only other player to pull off this feat in Pelicans franchise history is Anthony Davis, who did it five times. CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 The Portland Trail Blazers have started the year with a steady three and two record, but CJ McCollum has been the team's best player. What often goes forgotten in that game is that Portland, to borrow another boxing term, were very much so against the ropes, trailing 101-93 with nine minutes to play. Taking care of business for the players. He knew the Pelicans plan was to wear Lillard down throughout the game. [4] He was the leading freshman scorer in the nation and the first player in Patriot League history to be named conference Player and Rookie of the Year. [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. [15] He was recalled by the Blazers on January 5 and made his NBA debut three days later, during which he notched 4 points as Portland beat the Orlando Magic, 11094. [28], McCollum helped the Blazers claim victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 42, in the first round of the playoffs. Some would argue if I was in the East, I would have been a multi-time All-Star, McCollum said. Despite. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, They said it! Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and . Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. But we just care about each other. Maybe, the former Most Improved Player will finally get the first All-Star nod of his career. Its going to be a roller coaster. But its more about team success.. You know what Im saying? Its all the work I put in. It was kind of getting back to how we play.. Last Call for Blazers Edge Night Help (Please?). Towards the climax of that stretch, Lillard, in the middle of the 51-point game against Utah (of course), stepped to the free throw line, awaiting the ball before a familiar chant orchestrated by McCollum and Carmelo Anthony broke out: The entire arena gives Dame MVP chants after his 51-point game pic.twitter.com/kUZ4Fpv692. Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. [34] On December 10, he set a new career-high of 7 three-pointers made and finished with 34 points scored in a 118111 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Decade-long rulers of the Western Conference, the Warriors and more specifically, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson became the litmus test the Lillard-McCollum pairing would be based judged against. The Thunder opened up a double-digit lead midway through the second and a 70.6 percent win probability at that before the Blazers star duo did what expectations suggested they should: This sequence by Damian Lillard is still iconic pic.twitter.com/yZfuiLLfWx. He is one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. But as long as we remain solid and be us, then we are going to be all right.. 2. Coaches, players, and the media already have the utmost respect for McCollum. Try a week on us. 1 in the Western Conference had become more of an unfortunate What If story. [42] He recorded as many as 36 points during a 9897 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 7. The Pelicans handled that pressure and played like the more desperate team, withstanding a 41-point outburst from Lillard to hold on to a 121-110 victory. [37]) On February 7, McCollum scored 32 points; the last two of which, on a runner from the top of the lane, clinched the 114113 win over the Dallas Mavericks with 0.9 seconds left. A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. us, High School: A reserve in his first two years, he became a full-time starter for the Trail Blazers in his third season after making the decision to move to shooting guard as the Blazers lost LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, and Robin Lopez in free agency following the end of the 2014-15 season. NEW ORLEANS CJ McCollum scored a season-high 40 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 126-117 to end their four-game losing streak. There will be no Jamal Murray jokes today. C.J. For nearly a full decade, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum shared the backcourt for the Portland Trail Blazers, staking their claim as one of the NBAs most potent 1-2 punches. McCollum was named First Team All-Conference. But on Thursday night, after he and Lillard combined for 57 points vs. Miami, he reminded the NBA that Portland is a force to be reckoned with. Knowing that if we blitz (Lillard) with Willy and (Jaxson Hayes), what if we go with Herb at the five? Pels coach Willie Green said. Staying confident in everything that Im doing. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. #RipCity #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/gx5FvsyBgy. He is averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Major League Baseball announced Friday that this season's All-Star Game and draft will not be held in Atlanta in response to Georgia's recently passed laws that placed new restrictions on voting. Shoots: 1 in the Western Conference, 51-point performance against Golden State, 41-point second half takeover from Lillard and McCollum, McCollums comments about load management. Tonight marks the first-ever game between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. New Orleans is in the midst of a season-long five-game road trip. Keeping both highlight-reel makers and opposing defenses awake and working late in the night, the duo injected a jolt of energy into the Portland fanbase, lacing up for over 500 games together from 2014 to 2022. He has made 55/114 (48%) of his three-pointers but has committed 46 turnovers. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The Last Hurrah OT Duel vs. Hardens Rockets Dec. 26, 2020. When Dame was out this year, his usage spiked and he put up great numbers. If you look at the numbers, Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is easily an All-Star caliber player. McCollum moved into the starting lineup for good in 2015-16, joining Lillard in the backcourt, and they teamed to lead Portland to playoff appearances each of the next five seasons, highlighted by a trip to the 2019 Western Conference finals. I think that was the desperation we need to play with moving forward. Ingram's personal update explained how it would be hard to tell exactly when he'd be ready. To get his team over the hump, Ingram must consistently play at a superstar level the rest of the way. [19] In the season-opener on October 25, he put up 25 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz, 113104. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Over that span, Lillard averaged 45.1 points, 9.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds on 53-53-88 splits (no, there are no typos there), with the sub-.500 Blazers needing every ounce of it to keep their fledgling postseason aspirations alive. Vote here: https://n. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 'Felt like practice': Lillard, McCollum square off, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. I mean. [3] Even though he was already considered virtually destined to be a top NBA draft pick by his third year, he decided to finish his final year of college instead of leaving sooner for the NBA. To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. He is a willing listener. In sickness and health, McCollum rains jumpers. But for the first time in his career, McCollum walked through that back hallway with the intention of beating Lillard and handing his new team a historic night of their own. [19] On November 6, 2018, McCollum scored 40 points during a 118103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite averaging 26.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.1% from three, all career highs, McCollums name was missing from the list of reserves for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. [14] McCollum sat out the first six weeks of the regular season with a foot injury. [73], McCollum hosts a weekly podcast, Pull Up with CJ McCollum, that is produced by Cadence13. Gambling problem? [3] McCollum would eventually benefit from a late growth spurt, gaining five inches by his second year and another four inches by his third year of high school; it proved enough to put him on the radar for college recruitment. From 2015-16 to 2020-21, Lillard was No. [31] Only four days later, he posted 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a career-high 3 blocks as Portland beat the Denver Nuggets, 115113, in an overtime contest. As such, he saw his minutes increase to 34.8 per contest, and he started in all 80 games that he played. McCollum has repeatedly stressed not being too reactive to the ebbs and flows of the NBA season, a message that has permeated throughout the roster. That means sometimes I might have it going, but hes the closer. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft, More CJ McCollum pages at Sports Reference. 0:23; [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. In a considerably superior environment with more talent, the Warriors often got the better end of the stick. McCollum: 'More than just a basketball player', "Magic's Oladipo among rookie favorites to stand out in 201314", "Trail Blazers assign CJ McCollum to D-League", "Trail Blazers Exercise Team Options On Meyers Leonard And CJ McCollum", "Grizzlies advance, beating Trail Blazers 9993 in Game 5", "Trail Blazers Exercise Team Options On McCollum, Plumlee and Vonleh", "McCollum scores 37 as Blazers down Pelicans 11294", "McCollum scores 35 as Trail Blazers beat Kings 9894", "Randolph leads Grizzlies to 9178 win over Trail Blazers", "CJ McCollum to Compete in Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend", "McCollum has 30 as Trail Blazers beat Kings 115107", "Playoff destination sealed, Blazers beat Nuggets 10799", "Blazers' McCollum named Kia NBA Most Improved Player", "Splash Brothers Curry, Thompson send Warriors to West finals", "Trail Blazers Sign CJ McCollum to Contract Extension", "Lillard scores 39, Blazers run home-opening win streak to 16", "Lillard hits floater, Blazers beat Nuggets 115113 in OT", "McCollum matches career high, Blazers beat Grizzlies 10094", "McCollum scores 33 points, Trail Blazers beat Nets 129109", "George has 37 points to lead Pacers over Blazers 118111", "McCollum has 43 points, Trail Blazers top Timberwolves 9589", "Vucevic's season-high 30 lead Magic past Blazers, 115109", "McCollum's winner sends Blazers past Mavs 114113", "Blazers beat Nuggets to take 1-game lead for 8th seed", "Durant shines in Warriors playoff debut in Game 1 win", "Blazers hand Suns worst loss ever in season opener, 12476", "McCollum's scores 28 in Blazers' 11496 win over Pacers", "Evans, Conley help Grizzlies hold off Trail Blazers 9897", "McCollum helps Blazers to 108105 comeback win over Wizards", "McCollum scores 32, leads Blazers over Bulls 124120 in OT", "McCollum scores 50 in 3 quarters, Blazers beat Bulls 124108", "MarShon Brooks scores 21 as Grizzlies beat Blazers 108103", "Davis' 47 points leads Pelicans to sweep of Trail Blazers", "McCollum scores 40 as Trail Blazers beat Bucks 118103", "Conley leads late rally as Grizzlies defeat Portland 9283", "Lillard scores 33, Trail Blazers top Mavericks 121118 in OT", "McCollum leads Trail Blazers in 12995 rout of 76ers", "George nets 36, Westbrook 29 as Thunder tops Blazers 123114", "McCollum has triple-double, Trail Blazers beat Hawks 120111", "Leonard hits winner, Raptors beat Trail Blazers 119117", "Lillard scores 30 points, Trail Blazers beat Nuggets 115108", "Blazers go up 21 after 140137 win in 4 OTs over Denver", "Blazers force Game 7 with 119108 victory over Denver", "McCollum leads Blazers past Nuggets 10096", "Warriors beat Blazers 119117 in OT for NBA Finals berth", "Trail Blazers vs. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. [62] McCollum matched his season-high on March 2, scoring 41 points in a 130107 win over the Orlando Magic. CJ McCollum is one of the most under-appreciated stars in the NBA. [59] Portland went on to lose the Conference Finals in a four-game sweep to the Warriors. Locked in on defense! from a few chairs down. Christian James McCollum (born September 19, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). CJ McCollum is on Instagram at 3jmccollum. Though, if there were a measuring stick, his eight-game stretch from Jan. 17 to Feb. 1, 2020 might be it. Ingram put on a shot-making clinic against a Portland defense that could not prevent him from getting anywhere he wanted. McCollum's 'Healthy Habits': Yoga, Wine and Podcasting", "CJ McCollum reacts to NBA suspending season, remains hopeful that season will resume", "New Orleans Pelicans' CJ McCollum joining ESPN as an NBA analyst", "CJ McCollum and Elise Esposito's Wedding Was an Intimate Affair in Oregon Wine Country", "CJ and Elise McCollum welcome son Jacobi James McCollum", "C.J. [69] On April 13, during the NBA Play-In Tournament, McCollum recorded 32 points, six rebounds, and seven assists leading the Pelicans past the San Antonio Spurs 113103 and advancing New Orleans to the eight seed game. )[23] McCollum was able to resume his starting shooting guard role on January 4 as Lillard was back on his feet, returned from injury. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. When NBA players discuss some of the benefits to that of their sport, in comparison to say, the NFL where games are often seven days apart one of the positives they always bring up: after a bad performance, you normally dont have to wait as long for a shot at redemption. [65], On December 7, 2021, McCollum was diagnosed with a pneumothorax and was ruled out indefinitely. I just work extremely hard and I dont need validation from outsiders, I dont need validation from other people, because I know what I have and what I bring to the table., "I don't need validation from other people, because I know what I have and what I bring to the table. [21] With four of Portland's previous startersLaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopezhaving departed, only star point guard Damian Lillard remained; thus McCollum was elevated to starting shooting guard to join Lillard in the backcourt for the 201516 campaign. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. [66] On January 17, 2022, he made his return from the injury, logging 16 points in a 9888 win over the Orlando Magic. While Lillard ended up scoring 41 points, he was less effective as the game progressed. During his third year in the league in 201516, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.[1]. Across their eight-and-half year reign together, the two combined for 29,367 points a lot of regular season and postseason buckets combined along with three 50-win seasons, eight postseason appearances, once upon a time the NBAs longest active streak, and an immeasurable amount of memories. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the tenth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Beyond Zion Williamson, who remains out with his hamstring injury, Jose Alvarado will miss at least the next weeks with a right tibia stress reaction and Larry Nance is out at least the next two weeks with an ankle issue. That lineup looked so active and disruptive together that Green almost has no choice but to consider using it more, especially if Valanciunas continues to sit with his calf issue. [38] In a 122113 victory over Denver on March 28, McCollum finished with a 39-point tally. Ingram shot a tidy 18-of-29 from the field and didnt record a single turnover in 38 minutes of game action. Thinking about some of the other elite duos of this time think Harden-Westbrook, Embiid-Simmons, etc its remarkable that there was never a story in which jealousy or insecurity came about. [40], McCollum missed the opener of the 201718 season due to a single-game suspension incurred when he left the bench area once during a preseason game. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. [10] McCollum went on to graduate from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.[11][12]. His teams have constantly been in the top half of the Western Conference or at least giving high seeds scares like last year against the Phoenix Suns. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. I am going to make shots and am going to help us win.. News: 1 day ago McCollum registered 24 points (9-19 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds and seven assists across 36 minutes during Wednesday's 121-110 victory over the Trail Blazers. Though, it shouldnt be forgotten what Lillard and his co-star did together in this one. Among some highlights: The chemistry proved tangible. McCollum put together the first of what would become a long list of elite performances in win-or-go-home games, many of those shots illustrated here: Ive got this odd suspicion that CJ McCollum is bounce back with one of his greater games tonight in Game 6. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, that pushed him past Michael Jordan in 1997-98 (12) for the most ever in a single season by a player age 32 or older. [52] On January 22, he scored 31 points and made seven 3-pointers in a 123114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, thus passing Nicolas Batum (751) for fourth on the franchise's all-time 3-pointers list. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. The former NBA Most Improved Player in 2015-16 has. McCollum began last season playing the best basketball of his life for the Portland Trail Blazers. When one didnt have it, the other did, as evidenced by each of them averaging 25+ over the seven-game series. CJ McCollum has made at least $147,980,107 playing professional basketball. pic.twitter.com/GRbo89wKhV, New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2023. While accolades are great, McCollum values being a good person and helping his team win over making it to the big game. You dont get to have these moments forever. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Dennis Schroder, DAngelo Russell, Troy Brown Jr., Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis. There are 21 games over the next 6 weeks to garner some more fan votes. No real explanation why; w/ some players it just never feels smart counting them out.Take a look at his rsum in elimination matchups w/ the Blazers. The fact that each guard played in 90+ percent of the games they shared together. John Amis/Associated Press. CJ McCollumhas averaged 32.4 points, 8.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 8 games without Damian Lillardthis season. For the first time in 16 months, that pairing this generations most impactful Blazers duo will share the floor together once more in what promises to be an emotional outing. [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are up-and-coming stars with loyal fanbases voting daily. [47] In Game 4 of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, McCollum scored 38 points in a 131123 loss. A couple hundred tickets remain, and three days. (31-33, 10th place in NBA Western Conference). NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, CJ McCollum questionable for Wednesday road game at Lakers, 5 things to know about the Pelicans on Feb. 14, 2023. McCollum finished the night with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, but it wasnt his offensive performance that left his teammates giddy after the buzzer. [84] He has his own label, McCollum Heritage 91, named after the street he grew up on and his birth year. For better or worse, there havent been many duos quite like them. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, & Rodney Hood combined for 87 PTS as the Blazers won at home last night to force a Game 7! Bleacher Report Floats Bridges, ONeale Trade to the Trail Blazers. His 11 three-pointers were a Pelicans franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a game. On January 1, 2014, he was assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the development league. Of those most high-profile, Game Four against the Grizzlies proved to be the most enticing. The 2021 All Star Game in Indianapolis is still almost a year away. [75] Guests on the show have included Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. That's what the game is about. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. It paid off tonight, Ingram told The Athletic. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He came out with the kind of desperate mindset McCollum called for pregame, but he didnt allow that to translate into recklessness. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. Lillard and McCollums relationship actually started because they both dealt with the same foot injury. While Lillard did get the best of him in their individual matchup, McCollum got what he needed most in his return to Portland: a win. Given McCollums comments about load management, and how the players were supposed to agree to which games they would sit, its clear that both fought to be on the floor as much as possible. He has been a marquee name for over a decade and since becoming a starter in 2015 McCollum has averaged over 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 40% shooting behind the arc. He played and started in 31 contests and shot 39.9 percent from the field. home/away, monthly, etc More CJ McCollum Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Pelicans [17], On October 27, 2014, Portland exercised their third-year team option to extended McCollum's rookie scale contract through 201516. In tandem, they tallied up 32 second half points, resuscitating the Blazers long time postseason streak in the process. By this point, the Blazers, once 30-8 and No. Not just great basketball players. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. [32] During a 10094 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, he matched his earlier career-high by racking up 37 points. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said. But me knowing him the way I know him and having to compete against him, I wanted to make sure I got out front and set the tone early.. The two used to guard each other during Portland practice sessions when they wanted to light a fire under their teammates, and McCollums effort had the same effect on his new club. He just doesnt know if he will be there solely to take meetings as the president of the NBA Players Association or if his trip to Salt Lake City will serve a dual purpose. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. Lillard helped bridge the gap between award-winning hip-hop artist and one of the faces of Adidas. once 30-8 and No. inCanton,Ohio [30] McCollum would start in all 80 games that he played and would average 23 points as well as 3.6 rebounds and as many assists. McCollum evolved with the Pull-Up podcast and as a wine connoisseur, to name a few of his interests. The peak of that stretch came in a 128-126 thriller over the Houston Rockets, in which McCollum poured in 44 points, eight assists and nine 3-pointers, and Lillard provided reinforcement with 32 points, five rebounds and nine assists, the last of which proved to be the most important. He consistently made the right play and was unbothered by Portlands attempts to run double teams or zone coverages to force him into mistakes. With Valanciunas and Nance Jr. both sidelined due to injuries, Pelicans coach Willie Greens frontcourt options were already limited. The Pelicans (26-17) still sit in third place in the West. Things got even more difficult as Lillard repeatedly roasted Willy Hernangomez, forcing the replacement Pelicans center to move his feet out in space. Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). Do you have a sports website? Javascript is required for the selection of a player. McCollum: Why I'm returning to Lehigh for my senior year", "McCollum breaks record in 9177 win at Sacred Heart", "Hulls Named Finalist for Senior CLASS Award", "Lehigh alum C.J. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. If not, then he will handle his duties as NBPA president and then escape the Mountain West cold for a few days with his family. But Brandon Ingram turned out to be the most dominant figure in Moda Center Wednesday. He signed his rookie scale contract with the franchise on July 11,[13] and he proceeded to play for them in the NBA Summer League, averaging 21 points and 4 rebounds per game. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. He is averaging 13.3 points per game, and has helped the Blazers maintain an 18-12 record so far. Like most every other team in the NBA from 2014-15 to 2018-19, performances didnt hold the same value unless you did it against the Golden State Warriors. Schooling the Thunder once in Game One was to get the monkey of their respective backs; to do it again would be sending a message. "It's cool to compete against your peers and your friends and people that you respect and you worked with. I just do my job. Zion Williamson (9) and Brandon Ingram (23) have missed a combined 32 games and counting. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. Igniting the rally, he and McCollum combined for 30 points in the second half on the way to a 114-94 win. Indeed, New Orleans later switched to defensive stoppers Herbert Jones, Dyson Daniels and Josh Richardson against Lillard, denying him the basketball in an effort to force other Portland players to beat them. Both Anthony and McCollum deserved to be reserved in the All-Star game this year if we look at the output both of them have put out. My teammates did a good job of finding me and giving me those opportunities. Ingram put on a masterclass in controlling an offense while operating within the 15-to-18-foot range. Theres no easy pick which game led to the fastest heartbeat; each was packed with pressure and high-stakes implications. NBA.com is part of Warner . If I never make an All-Star Game man, I wont be sad about it because I know Im nice, and I know a lot of people respect my game, McCollum said. Ingram also made his presence felt on defense with active off-ball rotations and solid on-ball work 1-on-1. "Just like practice, only a longer game, a couple more foul calls and fans there," he said. To two undersized mid-major guards who had made a career out of outpunching their weight, though, odds meant little.