What happened: Ja repeatedly joined in on the "Dame Time" celebration while watching Lillard put away the victory for Portland.

Why it matters: The late-game execution marks an early milestone for Lillard, who returned from an Achilles injury to open the 2026-27 regular season. He has shared backcourt duties in a balanced rotation averaging 20 to 29 minutes per night.

What to watch: Portland continues its early regular-season slate as Lillard builds conditioning in the backcourt rotation.