By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Damian Lillard hit a 37-foot buzzer-beater to send the Portland Trail Blazers over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. The 28-year-old American point guard not only erupted the Moda Center crowd and finished with a career playoff-high 50 points, but waved goodbye to Russell Westbrook and the Thunder after eliminating them from the 2019 NBA Playoffs.
With the contest knotted at 115, Lillard pulled up from way back to sink the game-winning shot. His buzzer-beater just inside of halfcourt was his tenth of the night and the most ever by a Blazer in postseason action. The hosts were down 15 points with 7:45 to go, but were determined to take out their opponents and achieved their goal taking it up a notch down the stretch.
Next up will the winner of the best-of-seven series between the Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets are up 3-2 and will have the home-court advantage versus the Oregon organization if they ultimately advance. The Blazers will start the Western Conference semifinal at Moda Center if the Spurs pull off a two-win streak at the bottom end of the series.