Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits the game winner, Damian Lillard makes history

Wow. What else can you say besides, wow?  Games like this are “step back” games. No, not Shai Gilgeous-Alexander three-pointers, though those are pretty too, but step back and think how cool all of this is. Tonight was a great night for me to reflect on how incredible this job is, but also just how incredible this sport is and how grateful I am to get to watch it and cover it, and everyone reading this right now.

What a historic night in Bricktown on a Monday night in December, that is what the NBA has brought to this city, and our state. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a game-winner at the final buzzer to give Oklahoma City a 123-121 win over a playoff-caliber Portland Trail Blazers team that now sits at 17-14, on a night that Damian Lillard etched his name into the history books forever. Becoming immortal in Portland lure.

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Portland Trail Blazers at the Buzzer thanks to star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as Damian Lillard becomes the All-Time leading scorer for the Blazers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a slow start to this game, going 2-for-11 in the first half leading a lot of “he just does not have it” talk murmuring around the press row, and he did not have it…Until he did.

In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander went 4-for-7 from the floor, 1-for-1 from three, going for 12 points and two assists. Only to put up 12 more points, including the game-winner, in the final frame.

This was yet another 30-plus-point game for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who finished with 35 points, six assists, two rebounds,  a steal, two blocks, and created a clutch-time air ball from Anfernee Simons which saved the game.

The soon-to-be first-time All-Star as voting opens tomorrow ranks third in points per game, second in 30-point games, first in free throws made, and first in clutch time scoring around the entire NBA.

This was yet another crowning moment for the Kentucky Product who watched Damian Lillard earn the Portland Trail Blazers’ all-time scoring night and said he “absolutely” wants to do that in his career, adding he plays the game “to break records and be the best player in the World.” 

Damian Lillard entered the night 21 points shy of the Portland Trail Blazers’ scoring record and finished with 28 points including multiple counterpunches to keep Portland alive down the stretch of this game, with the tying bucket coming with three seconds left on the clock before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ended the contest. None of those buckets were bigger than these free throws.

Oklahoma City, as does Damian Lillard, will live on forever in the form of sports trivia “where did Dame break the Portland scoring record?” will be a question at every hipster brewery trivia party from now until the end of time in Portland.

For Thunder fans, they will remember Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 4th career game-winner to send OKC onto a two-game winning streak, and earn their 13th win before Christmas Day after all the National Media scrutiny this organization has faced for three seasons.

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw seven players reach double-figures in this team win by the Bricktown boys, but the stars stole the show.