Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit the basket just as time expired and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 123-121 on Monday night to spoil a record-breaking night for Damian Lillard.
The basket rounded out 35 points for Gilgeous-Alexander, a rising star who began the night third on the NBA’s scoring list.
Lillard had evened the score with a back-firing layup with 3.5 seconds to go. He scored 28 points, to surpass the franchise scoring record set by Clyde Drexler.
A Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Drexler scored 18,040 points for the Trail Blazers from 1983-1995. Lillard needed 21 to pass him when the game began.
Lillard matched the record with a long 3-pointer in the third quarter that put the Trail Blazers up 72-67, then added a free throw with 1:33 to end the quarters. Shortly thereafter, the Thunder announcer informed the audience of Lillard’s achievement, and the audience gave him a standing ovation. Lillard sat down and rested, focused on a game the Trail Blazers trailed by three at the time.
The score was tied at 94 before the fourth quarter. Anfernee Simons hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Portland up 115-110 with about four minutes remaining.
Oklahoma City rallied and Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws to put the hosts up 120-119 with 16.6 seconds remaining. The game was two points apart until the end.
