C.J. McCollum hits game winner after Dirk Nowitzki go-ahead three (Video)

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum hit the winning shot right after Dirk Nowitzki gave the Dallas Mavericks the lead with a three.

The race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference is heating up as the stretch run of the season hits. There was a huge matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, as the two teams tried to get the leg up in the playoff race. It was a thrilling game that saw an even better finish from C.J. McCollum.

As the Trail Blazers held a two-point lead over the Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki turned back the clock. The future Hall of Famer drilled a huge three to give Dallas the lead with three seconds remaining and it appeared there be cause for celebration. McCollum made sure to cancel any Tuesday night party plans, as he drove the lane and put up a shot with virtually no time remaining.

What’s great about these games with playoff pushes on the line is that they have a playoff atmosphere. It doesn’t matter if it’s for seeding near the top or near the bottom of the race, playing for a spot in the playoffs is the biggest thing in the regular season.

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Nowitzki looked like the player that was once an MVP on that three and it felt like it was going to be the story of the night. Instead, McCollum got the look that he wanted and was able to seal the victory for Portland on the road.

After the Mavericks got a huge win on the road over the Trail Blazers last week, Portland returned the favor with a win of their own in Dallas.