After months of planning and two weeks of seeding games within the NBA’s Disney World bubble, Thursday night it all came to the Portland Trail Blazers match with the Brooklyn Nets. And after an incredible back-and-forth match, the Blazers clinched a spot in the play-in tournament with a 134-133 win.
The situation was quite simple. Win, and the Blazers advance to the play-in, lose, and the Suns would enter. Damian Lillard, after everything he did in the bubble, didn’t let that happen. He finished with 42 points and 12 assists for his fourth night of 40 points in seed matches.
It was another incredible performance from Lillard, but Caris LeVert almost broke the heart of the Blazers. The young Brooklyn guard was stellar in his own right, going for 37 points, six rebounds and nine assists, but his potential game winner rang from the back of the circle, saving Portland and ending Phoenix’s season.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/05/14/3967694-80548588-2560-1440.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)