NBA -- Melo cimbs up to 12th in all-time scoring list
By Ryan Gallardo
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Feb 2021
PORTLAND -- As he campaigns in his 18th NBA season, Carmelo Anthony is still searching for the championship ring that has eluded him since he was taken as the third overall pick in the 2003 draft.
And while the window to capture that missing piece is now slowly closing. the 36-year old guard out of Syracuse can still look back at an amazing journey that saw him shine with his terrific shooting skills in Denver, Newt York, Oklahoma City, and most recently, Portland.
Anthony, who has made upwards of $262 million in NBA salaries, is a 10-time All-Star and the league's scoring champion in 2013.
On Tuesday night (Wednesday AM in the Philippines), the 6-foot-7, 238-pound sniper added another feather on his cap.
In helping the Trail Blazers beat the visiting Orlando Magic at the Moda Center, Melo pumped in 23 points and moved swiftly into 12th in the NBA's all-time scoring list, bumping off the previous spot occupant, the legendary Oscar Robertson.
Anthony now has an impressive total of 26,722 points through 1144 regular season games, a yeoman's feat that wasn't lost on him despite having already accumulated several other awards and distinctions since he left the collegiate ranks and turned pro.
"That's a big honor right there. I try to play it cool. Sometimes I try to sit back and reflect on these moments, take these moments in. I'm enjoying this, I'm glad I can keep climbing up the charts. But the Big O, that's big," he told reporters.
This most recent accomplishment arrived as a giant icing on the cake following Portland's 106-97 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic.
Lillard led the oslaught with a fiery 36-point effort on 9-of-22 shooting from the field and 5-of-10 from 3-point distance. Lillard, himself a multiple All-Star, also knocked down all 13 of his free throw attempts.
But Melo's contribution was especially crucial given that starting shooting guard CJ McCollum sat out with an injured left foot. Gary Trent Jr helped advance Portland's cause with 15 points while Derrick Jones Jr, Anfernee Simmons and Enes Kanter pooled together 25 points and 24 rebounds.
With their sixth home win in 11 outings, the Blazers burnished their won-lost record to 13-10, fifth best in the Western Conference.
Orlando, meanwhile, lost two in a row and spiraled to 13th place in the Eastern Conference.
Center Nikola Vucevic led Orlando's failed charge with 27 points and 15 rebounds while Terrence Ross scattered 22 off the bench and James Ennis III chipped in 16.
But their combined herculean effort was not enough as the Magic converted only 37 of their 88 field goals (42 percent) and just 11 of 25 treys (31.4 percent).
It was Orlando's eight consecutive loss at the hands of Portland.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ryan Gallardo.
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