Damian Lillard hit a 37-footer at the buzzer and finished with a career-playoff-high 50 points to help the Portland Trail Blazers eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder from the playoffs in five games with a 118-115 victory on Tuesday.
With the game tied, Lillard dribbled just inside of half court near the Blazers logo and then pulled up and hit the game winner.
Lillard waved goodbye to the Thunder bench after nailing the shot, then was promptly mobbed by his teammates. As the Thunder left the floor, Lillard circled the court, high-fiving fans.
Lillard had 10 3-pointers, breaking the franchise record.
Portland advances to the Western Conference semifinals to face the winner of the series between the Nuggets and San Antonio. Denver won 108-90 earlier in the night to take a 3-2 lead in that series.
It was the 12th straight road playoff loss for the Thunder, who have been eliminated in the opening round in three straight seasons.
Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double and his second of the series. Paul George added 36 points.
Lillard had 34 points in the first half — more than Westbrook and George had combined (32) for the Thunder — but the Blazers had just a 61-60 edge going into the second half.
Portland was swept in the first round of the playoffs the past two seasons, last year by New Orleans and the previous year by Golden State.
The Blazers’ last trip to the Western Conference semifinals came in 2016, when they beat the Clippers in the opening round before falling to the Warriors in five games.
The Thunder also got knocked out in the opening round the past two seasons. In 2016, a year after missing the playoffs entirely, they went to the conference finals but lost to Golden State.
OKC coach Billy Donovan knew before the game what the Thunder were up against: “You throw everything you have into this game. It’s a matter of a collectively going out there to play to the best of their ability.”
