NBA Playoffs 2014, Rockets at Trail Blazers final score: Damian Lillard’s 3 wins game, series for Portland

Damian Lillard hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 99-98 victory over the Houston Rockets, winning the series 4-2.

Lillard finished with  25 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while LaMarcus Aldridge went for 30 points and 13 rebounds.

Dwight Howard was the star of the game for the Rockets. He scored 26 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out three assists and blocked two shots. He was especially excellent down the stretch as the Rockets went back into the lead. With the Rockets down 85-83, Howard scored the next 13 points for the Rockets to give them a 96-94 lead.

After Nicolas Batum tied the game at 96, the Rockets cleared out for James Harden, who missed, but Chandler Parsons was there for the put-back to give the Rockets a two-point lead.

That’s when Lillard worked his Magic. He came off of a double screen and buried his sixth three-pointer of the game.

Harden led all scorers with 34 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals and Parsons put up 16 points and 12 rebounds.

After allowing the Blazers to score the first seven points of the game, the Rockets stormed back and outscored the Blazers by identical 29-28 margins in both the first and second quarters to take a 58-56 lead into the break. The Blazers cut the lead to one entering the final quarter. The Rockets were in control for a large portion of the game, but the Blazers regained the lead on a Batum three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

The Blazers will now await the winner of the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

Game 1: Blazers 122, Rockets 120 (OT)
Game 2: Blazers 112, Rockets 105
Game 3: Rockets 121, Blazers 116
Game 4: Blazers 123, Rockets 120 (OT)
Game 5: Rockets 108, Blazers 98

For more on the Blazers and Rockets, check out Rip City Project and Space City Scoop.