Damian Lillard Returns to Portland Court, Scores 15 in First Game Back

Damian Lillard’s Portland comeback is officially more than a homecoming story. The Trail Blazers legend returned to game action Wednesday night, scoring 15 points in 19 minutes in Portland’s 123-118 preseason win over Golden State. It was Lillard’s first NBA game since tearing his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs and his first appearance in a Trail Blazers uniform since 2023.

Lillard shot 5-of-11 from the field, made three 3-pointers and added two steals. His opening basket was fittingly a three, giving the Moda Center crowd an early reminder of the shot-making that made him the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. The night also offered Portland its first game look at a dramatically different backcourt: Ja Morant, acquired during the offseason, finished with eight points and five assists alongside Lillard.

The preseason numbers matter less than what Lillard’s movement and shooting suggest after a long Achilles rehabilitation. At 36, Portland does not need him to immediately reproduce his peak workload. A healthy Lillard who can still stretch defenses and create late-clock offense changes the ceiling of a roster now built around both veteran star power and younger legs. Wednesday was only 19 minutes, but for Portland, seeing No. 0 making threes in a Blazers uniform again was the real headline.