The Portland Trail Blazers kept their playoff hunt alive by the skin of their teeth after surviving the Brooklyn Nets, 134-133, on Thursday, August 13 (Friday, August 14, Manila time).

Damian Lillard fired 42 points on top of 12 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals as the Blazers (35-39) secured the 8th seed in the Western Conference and the twice-to-beat bonus in the play-in for the last playoff berth.

The Blazers will meet the ninth-seed Memphis Grizzlies (34-39) in the play-in on Saturday, August 15 (Sunday, August 16, Manila time).

Despite going 8-0 in the bubble and racking up an identical 34-39 record, the Phoenix Suns still got the boot, with the Grizzlies advancing by virtue of winning their season series, 3-1.

The Blazers looked headed for vacation as the Nets led by 126-122 with less than 4 minutes remaining before Lillard pulled his team within a point with 3 straight free throws.

Gary Trent Jr then drilled a three-pointer as the Blazers seized a 130-128 lead – an enough cushion to fend off Caris LeVert and the pesky Nets.

LeVert converted an and-one to trim the Nets deficit to 133-134 with 40 seconds remaining and had a chance to win the game only to miss a 22-foot jumper at the buzzer.

“We came out here and earned another win. It feels better going to the play-in game knowing that our 8 games, we had to work for. We deserve to be where we are going,” said Lillard.

Despite being hounded by double teams, Lillard finished with at least 40 points for the third straight game – his 154 points the most any player has scored over the last 3 games of the regular season.

Bad back and all, CJ McCollum delivered 25 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals for the Blazers, while Jusuf Nurkic put up 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Trent Jr and Hassan Whiteside each had 16 points off the bench in the win.

Levert churned out 37 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals for the Nets, who will enter the playoffs with a 35-37 record for the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. – Rappler.com