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On this date in Blazers history: Lillard makes ‘The Shot,’ etches ‘0.9’ into Rip City lore

By Matt George Moore

PORTLAND, OR - MAY 2: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2014 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MAY 2: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2014 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Let’s take a moment to relive one of the greatest clutch shots in Portland Trail Blazers history.

Friday, May 2, 2014, was a warmer-than-average day in Portland, with temperatures topping out at a near-balmy 76 degrees, about 10 degrees above the norm, according to Weather Underground.

But it’s a few other numbers from May 2, 2014, that really stand out for Blazers fans:

Like 0.9, for example.

And 20,204.

That second number is how many people were officially on hand at the Moda Center on May 2, 2014, to witness “The Shot.”

And that first number … ? Well, you know what it signifies.

Rockets-Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets finished the 2013-2014 regular season with identical 54-28 records. They both finished second in their respective divisions. And both had a 31-21 record against conference opponents.

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But the two teams entered the first round of the playoffs on different trajectories. The Rockets finished the regular season going 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Blazers, on the other hand, were on a roll; they had won nine of the previous 10 games to end the regular season.

The Rockets, however, earned the fourth seed by virtue of their 3-1 record against the Blazers in the regular season.

First Round

The fifth-seeded Blazers were back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Their win total — the fifth-highest in franchise history — was a 19-game improvement over the previous season. Damian Lillard and Terry Stotts were both in their second seasons with Portland. Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez made up the Blazers’ starting five.

The Rockets used 16 different starting lineups during the regular season. And after games one and two, Rockets coach Kevin McHale settled on a starting five of Patrick Beverley, James Harden, Chandler Parsons, Omar Asik and Dwight Howard.

The Blazers’ good play from the end of the regular season carried over into the playoffs. Portland won games one (in overtime) and two on the road in Houston. Aldridge was a beast, scoring 46 points and 43 points in the first and second games, respectively. (It’s worth remembering that Lillard and the Blazers might not have been in position to clinch the series in Game 6 without the dominating play of Aldridge in the first two games.)

The teams went back and forth after that. Houston won Game 3 (also in overtime) in Portland. The Blazers then went up 3-1 in the series with a home win in Game 4 — again in overtime. The Rockets avoided elimination with a Game 5 win in Houston.

And so, the series returned to Portland for Game 6, with the Blazers up 3-2.

Game 6 and ‘The Shot’

Lillard scored 25 points in Game 6, but it was his final three points that cemented his place in Blazers lore.

The game, like the series itself, was a thrilling, back-and-forth affair with 14 ties and 16 lead changes. And with the clock about to run out, Parsons snagged a rebound and then scored to give the Rockets a 98-96 lead.

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Portland called a timeout with just 0.9 left on the clock.

What happened next may be the biggest shot in Blazers history.

Here’s how The Oregonian/OregonLive later described it:

"(Lillard) clapped his hands as he dashed across the court. Parsons lagged behind him. Batum tossed the ball. Lillard caught it, turned and shot all in one motion. Swish."

And here’s what it looked like courtside:

Game over. Series over. (The Blazers’ first playoff series win since 2000.)

Not long after, Lillard grabbed the microphone from Blazers public address announcer Mark Mason, and … well, you probably remember.

Lillard.

0.9

The Shot.

Rip City.

On this date in 2014.