30 best shots in NBA Playoffs history
By John Buhler
23. Damian Lillard series-clinching three versus Houston Rockets: 2014 Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game 6
The Portland Trail Blazers have a proud NBA history. Though the Trail Blazers only have one NBA Championship to date, they are never bad for far too long. However, there was a 14-year stretch where the Trail Blazers didn’t win a playoff series. That all ended on this ridiculous shot from point guard Damian Lillard.
After the infamous Jail Blazers ran their course, Portland did not advance into the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs until Lillard unleashed this series-clinching buzzer beater in Game 6 against Houston.
Lillard had to run off a screen to the other side of the court to get open for an insanely difficult three-point attempt. He had to pretty much shoot across his body on the road, as he had no time to set and plant.
Down 98-96 with 0.9 seconds left in the game, Lillard out-hustled Rockets wing Chandler Parsons of the in-bound. The Moda Center erupted when Lillard’s three went through the cylinder. It was the biggest shot made by the Trail Blazers in Moda Center history.
In all honesty, only the Rip City shot back in the 1970s was a more impactful shot for the Trail Blazers. This shot added a level of respect to Lillard’s game outside of the Pacific Northwest. He was an All-Star and became a superstar with this one jumper from distance.