Lillard matches Kobe with historic 6-game scoring outburst

Damian Lillard's incredible recent run has put him on equal footing with a late legend.

After dropping 51 against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, the Portland Trail Blazers star has now totaled 293 points over his last six games. That draws Lillard equal with Kobe Bryant for the third-highest output over any six-game stretch in the past 20 seasons, according to ESPN's Kevin Pelton.

Only Houston Rockets guard James Harden has scored more points in half a dozen consecutive games over that span, posting at least 296 points in two overlapping stints in January 2019.

Most points scored in 6 straight games

Lillard's tear began Jan. 20 when he put up a franchise-record 61 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors. In the five matchups since, he's scored 47, 50, 36 (as part of his first career triple-double), 48, and 51 points. He's the first player in league history to average at least 45 points and 10 assists over six games, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

"I don't think we've ever seen anything like this," Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony told Pelton of Lillard's torrid stretch. "We've seen great basketball, we've seen guys score the basketball in different fashions, but what he's doing, we haven't seen that in a long time.

"I'm just happy to be a part of it, be a fan of it."

Lillard's surge has also translated to wins for the Trail Blazers, who have gone 5-1 in their last six to jump from 11th to ninth in the Western Conference. Portland now trails the Memphis Grizzlies by just one-and-a-half games for the conference's final playoff seed.