Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking the 5 greatest moments in Brandon Roy’s career

No. 2: Brandon Roy’s game-winner against Houston in 2008

Buzzer-beaters are some of the most exciting, if not THE most exciting shots in all of basketball.

Many remember the buzzer-beater that Damian Lillard hit over the Houston Rockets to send them home during the 2014 playoffs. Before that though, Brandon Roy hit his own last-second shot against the Rockets. In fact, not only one but two in a single game.

While it wasn’t a playoff clincher, the game certainly felt like a playoff atmosphere between these two teams fated to meet in the first round later that year.

Not only did the game make it to overtime, but the excitement was beginning there.

In the winding seconds of OT, Brandon Roy put the Blazers up 98-96 with a beautiful mid-range turn-around fadeaway. The shot was pure poetry in motion, and many thought the Blazers had sealed the game.

As beloved as Roy was in the moment, those feelings quickly dissipated as he fouled Yao Ming for an and-one opportunity that put the Rockets up by one with less than a second left.

It was at this moment that Roy knew he needed the ball. His determination was palpable.

https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1257829934074118145?s=20

With Yao Ming guarding Steve Blake on the inbound, Roy had to work his way well past the arc to get a clean shot.

From 30 feet, he let his shot fly. The high-arching rainbow came down almost in slow motion until you saw the net splash below.

It may have only been a regular-season game, but it showed the power of Brandon Roy’s will.