Portland’s Top Buzzer Beaters of 2012-2013
By David MacKay
Jan. 29, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) is surrounded by teammates after making a last second game-winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
You knew this was coming. How could it not be the number one buzzer beater of the Blazers’ season? Perhaps I am biased, having been at the Rose Garden that night, but it was absolutely astonishing. LaMarcus Aldridge buried, not one, but TWO big time shots to lead the Blazers to victory. Everything came together just right, and it needed to since Portland trailed by as many as 21 points in the third quarter.
Down 3 with 11.4 seconds remaining, Lillard inbounded to Aldridge who gave it right back to him. He then passed it to the man who was supposed to take the shot, Nicolas Batum. However, three defenders converged on Nicolas, who then swung the ball to LaMarcus Aldridge, who was so surprised that he was lucky to catch the ball, much less make the shot. He stepped back and sunk his first 3-pointer of the season with 4.5 seconds remaining.
Fast forward through an often forgotten charge Ronnie Price took on O.J. Mayo (which saved the game) and we find ourselves with 1.5 seconds remaining in regulation and Wesley Matthews inbounding the ball. Running out of time to get the ball on the court, he lofted it to LaMarcus again, who clinched the game with a turnaround fade-away as the horn sounded; almost exactly as he had done in Dallas the season before. Portland won 106-104. Aldridge had 29 points.