Damian Lillard’s return gave Portland something more meaningful than a preseason win: its first look at how he and Ja Morant might share a backcourt.
Lillard scored 15 points in 19 minutes as the Trail Blazers beat Golden State 123–118 at Moda Center on Wednesday, 7 October. It was his first NBA game since tearing his left Achilles during the 2025 playoffs. Morant started alongside him in his Portland debut, finishing with eight points and five assists.
The NBA’s official roundup confirmed the result and both guards’ headline numbers. The significance, though, extends beyond the score: Lillard is playing again after missing the entire 2025–26 season, and Portland can begin testing its new guard combination against opposition rather than only in practice.
Lillard’s shooting leads the return
Lillard finished 5-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-8 from three-point range, and made both free throws. He added one rebound, one assist and two steals, according to the game’s box score.
His previous game appearance came on 27 April 2025, when he suffered the Achilles injury while playing for Milwaukee. He subsequently returned to Portland but spent last season recovering.
For this first outing, the clearest positive was his willingness to shoot. Eight of his 11 field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc, giving Portland an immediate glimpse of the perimeter threat it has regained.
That is an encouraging basketball result, not a medical forecast. A 19-minute exhibition cannot establish how Lillard will handle regular-season workloads or repeated games. Nor should those minutes alone be treated as evidence of a continuing injury restriction.
Morant and Lillard begin sorting out their roles
Morant also played 19 minutes, shooting 3-of-8 and recording four turnovers alongside his five assists. His debut offered some playmaking production, but also room to sharpen the execution.
The more useful detail for understanding the partnership is how Portland intends to organise it. The Athletic’s Jason Quick reported that coach Micah Nori views Morant as the point guard and Lillard as the off guard when they play together.
That distinction was visible in the opener. NBC Sports reported that both guards worked on and off the ball, with Lillard spending time away from it, while Portland also ran offence through Deni Avdija. Avdija scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in 21 minutes.
This was not simply a two-player possession split. Portland’s other creators remain part of the equation, and one starting appearance does not settle the eventual rotation.
What fantasy managers can take from the opener
Lillard’s three-point volume is the strongest immediate fantasy signal. He attempted eight threes despite the short outing; playing alongside Morant did not prevent him from getting shots up.
The assist distribution deserves monitoring rather than a snap verdict. Morant had five and Lillard one, consistent with their reported roles, but one preseason game is not enough to project their season-long averages.
For now, separate the two developments. Lillard has completed his first game back, a substantial step after a season away. Portland’s backcourt usage remains a work in progress. The next useful evidence will be whether the shooting volume and playmaking responsibilities persist as the preseason unfolds—not whether either guard can win a single exhibition box-score comparison.
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