Damian Lillard is running out of ways to say that he doesn't want to leave the Portland Trail Blazers. But that doesn't stop the questions from coming about how long Lillard will stay with the only NBA team he's ever known.

Lillard said he thinks about winning a title in Portland all the time, but that there's more to his career than winning a title.

"If it didn't happen," he added, "I wouldn't feel good about it. But I'm always going to say that I'm invested in the journey, because there's a lot of moments that I'll cherish that I'll always appreciate whether I get there or not."

For Lillard, that journey is as important as the end destination. And part of that journey remains staying committed to staying in Portland.

"To that point," Lillard said, "I'm also willing to die on that hill."

Damian Lillard scored a career-high 71 points in the Portland Trail Blazers' 131-114 win over the Houston Rockets.

Lillard becomes the eighth different player to score 70 or more points in a game. He's also the oldest player to score 70 or more at the age of 32.

"I enjoy those moments in the game when I'm just going after people," Lillard said, "when I'm in attack mode."

Lillard's 13 3-pointers on 22 attempts were one shy of the NBA record set by Golden State's Klay Thompson in 2018.

Lillard left the game with 44 seconds remaining in the game.

Warner Bros. Discovery said Friday night that it is abandoning its regional sports network business. 

AT&T SportsNet has deals with the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz in the NBA.

The SportsNet announcement comes on the heels of news that Diamond Sports Group is also prepping to file for bankruptcy this spring. DSG owns and operates the Bally Sports regional networks and has the local television rights for over 40 MLB, NBA and NHL teams. 

While WBD is attempting to exit from the RSN business, they are also negotiating with the NBA on extending its national television deals.

Damian Lillard won the 2023 Three Point Shootout, beating Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton in the final.

Lillard had never won the contest, participating previously in 2014 and 2019.

Lillard wore a Weber State uniform, representing his college located near Salt Lake City.

Anfernee Simons was diagnosed with a grade 2 ankle sprain following an MRI on Thursday.

There is no timetable for Simons' return. 

Anfernee Simons will undergo an MRI on his right ankle.

Simons sprained his ankle on Tuesday night and x-rays were negative.

Simons is averaging 21.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 56 games this season for the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Golden State Warriors approved the four-team trade that sees them acquire Gary Payton II ahead of Sunday's 9:30 PM ET deadline.

Golden State found a core muscle injury when completing Payton's physical. That put the trade in jeopardy of being finalized. The Warriors are reportedly working the NBA, as they believe the Portland Trail Blazers withheld key medical information during the process of completing the four-team trade.

Once pushed through, Golden State will acquire Payton and two second-round picks. The Atlanta Hawks will acquire Saddiq Bey, while the Detroit Pistons will acquire James Wiseman. The Portland Trail Blazers will acquire Kevin Knox and five second-round picks.

The Golden State Warriors are working with the NBA on a way to complete a four-team trade involving Gary Payton II.

The Warriors want to preserve their rights to pursue recourse on how the Portland Trail Blazers shared Payton's medical information. 

There is a 9:30 p.m. ET deadline on the Warriors to make a final decision on Payton's physical and the fate of the trade.

A Golden State physical revealed that Payton would be out for a significant part of the remaining season.

Jerami Grant has signed with Klutch Sports Group, he confirmed on Friday night.

Grant is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will be eligible to sign a five-year, $233.2 million with the Blazers. 

Grant reportedly turned down a four-year, $112 million extension from the Blazers during the season. 

Gary Payton II reportedly did not want to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers despite signing with the team in the offseason and is ecstatic at returning to the Golden State Warriors, sources told Jason Quick of The Athletic.

Payton was acquired by the Warriors for five second-round picks and Kevin Knox.

The Blazers signed Payton this offseason to a three-year, $28 million deal.