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Portland Trail Blazers: Top 10 moments of the 2018-19 NBA season

By Raymond Simms

PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 23: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers waves goodbye to the Oklahoma City Thunder after hitting a last second 37 foot game winner to end Game Five of the Western Conference quarterfinals during the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center on April 23, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 118-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 23: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers waves goodbye to the Oklahoma City Thunder after hitting a last second 37 foot game winner to end Game Five of the Western Conference quarterfinals during the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center on April 23, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 118-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Maurice Harkless‘ 26 points and buzzer-beater in win at Lakers

The penultimate game of a season tends to generate little fanfare. That’s especially the case when a team that already clinched a playoff spot plays a team that was eliminated and is sitting its best players. However, the excitement was ramped up when Maurice Harkless took the game into his own hands and helped his team win.

The Trail Blazers took on a Los Angeles Lakers team that didn’t have its nine best players, including LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo and Lonzo Ball. Meanwhile, Portland dressed its normal rotation, as this would be the team’s final tune-up before the postseason.

Despite the personnel advantage, the Lakers were ahead 74-73 after three quarters. With Lillard (15 points, 4-of-13) and McCollum (seven points, 3-of-9) struggling, the Blazers would need an extra push to prevail.

In stepped Moe. He already entered the fourth with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and he continued his strong night by having a game-leading 12 points in the final frame. His last points were the exclamation point on a big night, as he knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner at the buzzer to give Portland the 104-101 victory.

Harkless’ 26 points are the second-most he has scored in his career, surpassed only by the 28 points he dropped in April 2013 as a rookie with the Orlando Magic. The win also helped keep the Blazers in contention for the third seed in the playoffs. The Houston Rockets lost the same night, finishing their season 53-29. This win, coupled with their win the next night, helped Portland tie with Houston. A 2-1 head-to-head advantage allowed the Blazers to lock up the higher seed.

With no LeBron James, this late season Blazers-Lakers tilt had little excitement on paper. However, it turned out to be a competitive game featuring a big night and astonishing buzzer-beater from a role player. The win also helped to vault the Blazers into a better playoff position. Who knows how differently things would have gone in the postseason if Moe didn’t go off on a Tuesday in L.A.?

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