Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from unforgettable Game 5 vs. Thunder

1. Damian. Lillard.

Any discussion of Game 5 begins and ends with Damian Lillard’s performance. His 50 points were his playoff career-high, eclipsing the 40 points he scored in Game 3 of the 2016 conference semifinals. The Blazers needed to step up against a Thunder team that wasn’t going to go down easily, and their star rose to the occasion.

Lillard wasn’t just the offensive engine, he made up most of the offense for the first half of the game. He scored 19 of the team’s 29 points in the first quarter and 15 of the team’s 32 points in the second. Lillard played in all 36 minutes of the first three frames, scoring 42 points on 27 shot attempts.

Before The Shot, Dame only scored five points in the fourth quarter on 2-of-5 shooting. Instead, he found others for open shots, dishing out four assists. With his shooting not as automatic, that was the exact type of playmaking his team needed in the midst of a comeback. The Shot gave him an even 50 points, and seemed to come at the intersection of composure and preparation.

Damian Lillard’s 50-point night was a microcosm of what he has given the Blazers ever since he arrived in 2012: automatic shooting from all levels, savvy playmaking and a calm demeanor in high-pressure moments. It’s something that Rip City fans have come to appreciate, and it has now helped their team advance to the next round in unforgettable fashion.