NBA scores 2014: Damian Lillard went bananas against the Spurs in triple OT and 3 other things we learned Friday night.

Lillard scored 43 points as Portland handed San Antonio its second triple-overtime loss of the week, plus three other things we learned Friday night.

by Liam Boylan-Pett

Dec 20, 2014, 12:55 PM UTC

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The Portland Trail Blazers were trailing the San Antonio Spurs at the end of regulation. Damian Lillard saved the day. They were down again at the end of overtime. Lillard once again was the savior. They were trailing again in the second overtime and he did the same thing. In the third overtime, he took over, and that's when the Blazers finished off the Spurs and picked up a big win in San Antonio, 129-119.

Lillard had a career-high 43 points, 26 of which came in the fourth quarter and three overtimes. He added seven assists and five rebounds as well, but it was his clutch play in the closing stages of the game that was most impressive. Lillard scored the Blazers’ final eight points in regulation, including a driving layup with 1.7 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

The Spurs scored the first six points of overtime, but Lillard and Portland answered. The point guard hit a three with 13.6 seconds left to send the game to another overtime. There, the Spurs scored the first six points again. But once again, the Blazers fought back, sparked by a slicing dunk from Lillard. In the final overtime, Lillard put on even more of a show.

Lillard scored nine in the Blazers' 11-0 run to start the final extra period. And unlike the Spurs, they didn't let go of the lead. It was a huge win for the Blazers, who are now 21-6 and have the third best record in the West. The NBA currently has a ridiculous crop of amazing point guards. Lillard is one of the best. And it's almost impossible to decide who is the best with names like Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, John Wall, Mike Conley, Rajon Rondo, Kyrie Irving and Kyle Lowry.

The defending NBA champions, meanwhile, are 17-10 and have lost three in a row and are 5-6 in their last 11 games. They're 0-4 in overtime this year and suffered their second triple-overtime loss in three days. Tim Duncan was phenomenal once again, scoring 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds with Tony Parker sitting out with a hamstring strain. Danny Green scored 27 and had 10 rebounds while shooting 6-9 from beyond the arc.

Portland has beaten the defending champs twice this season after bowing out the Spurs in the 2014 playoffs. Lillard was a star for Portland, but the rest of the team was up to the task as well. LeMarcus Aldridge had 32 points and 16 rebounds to answer Duncan’s big night. After last year’s trip to the second round of the playoffs, this year’s Portland team is a threat to make it even further.

3 other things we learned

The Grizzlies' win over the Spurs took quite a bit out of them. Unlike San Antonio, Memphis didn't put up much of a fight against the Chicago Bulls without Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, losing 103-97. The Grizzlies had a subpar night on the offensive side of the court, shooting just 39.4 percent from the field and dishing out just 12 assists -- down from 17.5 per game this season. Jimmy Butler was fantastic for the Bulls, scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Joakim Noah had 10 points and 13 rebounds. Nikola Mirotec was also fantastic, netting 27 points. In the battle of Gasol brothers, neither Marc nor Pau stood out. Pau Gasol had six points and 11 rebounds for the winning team and Marc Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

John Wall keeps on helping the Wizards win. Lillard may have had the most eye-opening night in the NBA, but Wall and the Wizards continue to win games and assert themselves as a contender in the Eastern Conference. They won a tight battle over the Heat, 105-103. Wall had 20 points and 10 assists to lead the Wizards to their sixth straight win. They've won 11 of 12 games. Wall was the star, but Bradley Beal's steal with 3.8 seconds left on an errant Dwyane Wade pass sealed the win for Washington.

The Celtics won their first game without Rajon Rondo. While most are focused on how Rondo and the Mavericks will mesh, the Celtics looked great in their first game without their star. Granted, it was against the Timberwolves, but a balanced attack led to an efficient night for Boston, who won 114-98. Six Celtics scored in double figures, with Kelly Olynyk leading the way off the bench with 21. And -- even with Rondo gone -- the Celtics dished out 29 assists. They shot 56.5 percent from the floor.

Play of the night

James Johnson had a pretty nice dunk over Andre Drummond when the Toronto Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons, 110-100. Johnson's explanation sums it up quite well: "That was nasty, right? I cocked that joint back and banged on him." Drummond didn't take too kindly to it, he tried to start a fight. He checked Johnson shortly after, sending him to the floor and starting a small scuffle. It was an ugly moment in an already ugly season for the Pistons, who just keep on losing. One of the most amazing parts of the Pistons' season is that it appears they aren't trying to tank. It's quite impressive how they keep losing so badly.