Durant Too Much As Thunder Win Thriller To AdvanceBlazers 104 @ Thunder 106
After coming so close to tying the series in game 4, the Blazers weren't willing to go down without a fight. Damian Lillard had his best game of the playoffs with a 27 point outburst but ultimately, Portland's best just wasn't good enough.
Portland's shots were finally falling for them in the first half, but turnovers kept them from taking full advantage. The game was essentially deadlocked at the half and stayed that way throughout the third, with Durant and Westbrook supplying pretty much all of the Thunder's offense. The Thunder entered the fourth period up by three but a three by Lillard tied it up, and the team's traded the lead several times in the final quarter.
Durant was the Thunder's high point man but it was Russell Westbrook scoring or assisting on all of the Thunder's scores in the last couple minutes who came up the clutchest. Nicolas Batum hit a difficult jumper to make it a 105-104 Thunder lead with 5.2 seconds on the clock. Westbrook was fouled, but amazingly the Blazers had one to give, leaving them with 3 seconds to work with. Westbrook milked a couple more seconds off the block before splitting the free throws and leaving Portland only enough time for a fullcourt heave.
The Thunder win the series in five games and advance to play the winner of the Nuggets-Timberwolves series. After the game, Scott Brooks praised the Blazers, notably Damian Lillard and Nicolas Batum, saying they have a "bright future ahead of them". Portland is eliminated from the playoffs and has not won a playoff series since 2000.
Player of the Game Kevin Durant
41 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists
POR 29 20 21 34 | 104 - Lillard: 27/3/2; Aldridge: 21/8/1; Batum: 17/8/2
OKC 31 19 23 33 | 106 - Westbrook: 33/2/8, 11-16 FG; J. Lamb: 9/2/0; K. Martin: 5/1/2
Thunder win series 4-1.
Warriors 107 @ Lakers 108 [OT]D. Howard: 23/11/1, 9-12 FG; S. Curry: 16/4/10
Lakers win series 4-1.
Spurs 109 @ Clippers 74Duncan: 23/14/1; Paul: 12/6/7
Clippers lead series 3-2.
Timberwolves 103 @ Nuggets 105Iguodala: 13/7/7; Love: 20/14/4
Nuggets lead series 3-2.
Knicks 94 @ Bulls 115D. Rose: 31/3/7; C. Anthony: 29/8/5
Bulls win series 4-2.
Pistons 78 @ 76ers 88A. Bynum: 23/12/2, 9-13 FG; Prince: 16/4/0
76ers lead series 3-2.
Clippers 97 @ Spurs 107T. Parker: 29/7/8; Paul: 23/7/5
Series tied 3-3.
Nuggets 80 @ Timberwolves 129Pekovic: 40/8/0; J. McGee: 20/9/0
Series tied 3-3.
76ers 122 @ Pistons 86A. Bynum: 17/11/2; B. Knight: 11/6/7
76ers win series 4-2.
Spurs 108 @ Clippers 104 [OT]T. Parker: 18/2/8; Paul: 18/8/11
Spurs win series 4-3.
Timberwolves 105 @ Nuggets 100Love: 30/10/5; T. Lawson: 17/4/12
Wolves win series 4-3.
Blazers Playoff Averages:LaMarcus Aldridge: 20.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG
Damian Lillard: 17.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.8 RPG
Nicolas Batum: 13.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG
Wesley Matthews: 13.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG
Chuck Hayes: 2.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG
Jason Terry: 9.6 PPG, 3 APG, 1.8 SPG
Chris Wilcox: 3.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Meyers Leonard: 3.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG
Ronnie Price: 2.8 PPG, 2 APG, 1.8 RPG
James Posey: 2.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG
CONFERENCE SEMIS(1) Los Angeles Lakers [53-29, 4-1] vs. (4) San Antonio Spurs [44-38, 4-3]
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder [52-30, 4-1] vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves [47-35, 4-3]
(1) Miami Heat (64-18, 4-0] vs. (4) Chicago Bulls [49-33, 4-1]
(2) Philadelphia 76ers [57-25, 4-2] vs. (3) Brooklyn Nets [53-29, 4-0]