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After an exhilarating finish, the Portland Trail Blazers narrowly escaped with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday to clinch a spot in the Western Conference play-in game.
Facing elimination from playoff contention with a loss, Damian Lillard scored 42 points and 12 assists to lead the Trail Blazers to a 134-133 win. The Nets had an opportunity to win the game at the buzzer but a step-back shot by Caris LeVert was too strong and the Trail Blazers survived as time expired.
Lillard has emerged as the favorite to be named the Most Valuable Player of the season restart after averaging 37.6 points in eight games at the Wide World of Sports Complex. He led all players in scoring after recording two games with at least 50 points, including a 61-point outburst on Tuesday, which tied a career-high.
The Trail Blazers will face off against a Memphis Grizzlies team that has limped into the play-in game. The Grizzlies entered the restart in eighth place, 3.5 games ahead of the Trail Blazers in ninth place. However, a 2-6 record during the restart dropped the Grizzlies to ninth place and forced them to appear in the play-in game on Saturday.
The Western Conference Play-In is set, featuring the @memgrizz and @trailblazers, for Saturday at 2:30 PM ET on ABC!
If Memphis wins Saturday, then both teams will play on Sunday at 4:30 PM ET on ESPN to determine the final NBA Playoffs spot. #WholeNewGame pic.twitter.com/7k3gi8zDXb
— NBA (@NBA) August 14, 2020
As the ninth seed in the play-in game, the Grizzlies must beat the Trail Blazers twice in order to secure the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers only need one victory but a loss would ensure the two teams play again on Sunday.
The play-in game between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies will tip-off on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The winner will play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs beginning on Aug. 18.
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