Monday 22 April 2019 10:22, UK
Damian Lillard explained that he just "needed one basket" to overcome a slow start and produce the third-quarter explosion that led the Portland Trail Blazers to a crucial Game 4 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.
With Lillard having missed his first six shots, the Trail Blazers trailed by seven late in the second quarter, before the All-Star point guard scored five of a 11 point run to send his team in ahead at the break.
The Blazers never looked back, as Lillard produced a 15-point third quarter to help seal a 111-98 victory, which put Portland 3-1 up in the Western Conference playoff series.
"I wasn't making shots but I thought our execution was pretty good, when we weren't turning the ball over," Lillard said of his first-half display.
"All I need to do is see it go in one time.
"In the third I felt like that was the time where we needed to kind of hit the gas. Not playing great in the first half, them making shots, forcing turnovers and we still had the lead. We came out the locker room saying turn it up."
C.J. McCollum was equally impressive for Portland, as he led the Blazers with 27 points on 10-20 shooting from the floor.
However, it was Lillard's third-quarter surge which turned the game, as he made five of his seven shots in the period, before going on to end the game with 24 points.
"He senses the moment when we need him to do different things," Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said.
"A lot of times that's with his scoring, but I think his leadership, his passing, the way he directs the team, the example he sets - all of that."
The Blazers will have the chance to close out the series when Game 5 takes place in Portland on Wednesday night.
