Just when it seemed it could be ‘Dame Time’, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stole the display.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit a baseline jumper as time expired, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 123-121 on Monday to spoil Damian Lillard’s record-setting night time.
Gilgeous-Alexander drove to his left and tired a 14-foot pullup over Justise Winslow. The shot capped a 35-point efficiency for the 24-year-old emerging megastar who entered the night time 3rd within the NBA in scoring.
Lillard had his snatch second, too. He made a opposite layup with 3.5 seconds last to tie it, and completed with 28 issues to damage Clyde Drexler’s franchise profession scoring listing.
Lillard would have most popular to set the mark in a win, however the fulfillment used to be nonetheless vital to him.
“It’s a great feeling to reach the top,” he stated. “It’s been a goal of mine and the list has so many players, great history of our organization, so to finally be No 1 is a special accomplishment that I’m proud of.”
Drexler, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, had 18,040 issues for the Trail Blazers from 1983–95. Lillard entered the night time wanting 21 to cross him.
Lillard tied Drexler’s general on a three-pointer from way past the road within the 3rd quarter that put the Trail Blazers up 72–67, then broke the mark on a loose throw with 1:33 left within the duration.
Moments later, the Thunder public cope with announcer knowledgeable the group of Lillard’s accomplishment, and the group gave him an ovation. Lillard sat and rested, all for a recreation the Trail Blazers have been trailing via 3 issues on the time.
“Even during the game tonight, I wasn’t playing focused on getting to the record,” Lillard stated. “I used to be taking part in the sport simply looking to win. I knew it might occur sooner or later.”
The score was tied at 94 heading into the fourth. Anfernee Simons hit back-to-back contested 3s to give Portland a 115-110 lead with about four minutes remaining.
Oklahoma City recovered, and Gilgeous-Alexander finished it off with his final shot.
“I stuck it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I used to be going to check out to stand up, however I noticed the double crew so I attempted to spin clear of it into the shot.”
Lillard said Gilgeous-Alexander is making his mark in the league.
“He’s spectacular,” Lillard said. “He’s obviously a really good player. Not just a good young player. He’s coming into his own. I can remember when I was young and I became the leader of a team. And I was basically introducing myself as the lead guard on the team, and I was going after it, you know, being aggressive. And I see that he’s in that state. He’s trying to show what he can do.”