Lillard heroics nothing new

If Damian Lillard’s series-clinching walkoff 3pointer against the Thunder looked familiar, it’s because he’s done it before.

His buzzer-beating 3 sent the Rockets packing back in 2014.

It may have been from a different spot and against a different team, but it was the same Lillard — cool and confident. As a result, the Trail Blazers are into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

“That’s Dame,” teammate Zach Collins said. “Besides the shot, that was one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen. I think it will go down in the history books.”

Lillard finished with 50 points, including 10 3pointers — capped by the legend-making 3 — in the Blazers’ 118-115 victory over the Thunder on Tuesday night that ended the series in five games.

The Blazers advance to the Western Conference semifinals to face the winner of the series between the Spurs and Nuggets.

Back in 2014, Lillard hit a 3 at the buzzer and the Blazers stunned the Rockets 99-98 to take the playoff series in six games and advance to the conference semifinals for the first time in 14 years. In the raucous postgame celebration, Lillard took the public address microphone and shouted “Rip City!”

With the game tied in the final moments Tuesday night, Lillard dribbled just inside of halfcourt near the Blazers logo and then pulled up and hit the game-winner at the buzzer from 37-feet.

Then he waved goodbye to the Thunder bench.

Lowry ‘fine:’ Guard Kyle Lowry injured the ring finger on his right hand during the Raptors’ 115-96 series-clinching win over the Magic on Tuesday.

He missed some time before the half, but started the second half and finished the game with 14 points, nine assists and four rebounds in 26 minutes.

Lowry, who was wearing a splint on the finger during the postgame news conference, said it was “fine,” and he expects it to be better by the Raptors’ Eastern Conference semifnals opener against the 76ers on Saturday.