PORTLAND, ORE. – Brandon Roy hit a deep three pointer with less than a second left to lead the Portland Trail Blazers (2-3) to a 101-99 victory over the Houston Rockets (3-2) in front of 20,611 fans at the Rose Garden. Roy finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
As overtime was winding down, Roy hit a shot with 1.9 seconds left to give the Trail Blazers a 98-96 lead. But on the ensuing play, Yao Ming sank a baseline shot while being fouled by Roy. Ming completed the three-point play to give the Rockets a 99-98 lead.
With just 0.8 seconds left, Steve Blake inbounded the ball to Roy, who turned and released a high-arcing shot from roughly 30 feet out that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, unleashing an eruption of cheers from the home crowd.
Coach Nate McMillan described the play he drew up as simple and that it was designed to have three options – Rudy Fernandez and Brandon Roy as the primary targets and Travis Outlaw as the third option.
“The look Brandon had on his face, Blake had to give it to him. He wanted it; Blake gave it to him and he hit an unbelievable shot,” said McMillan.
“In this league we’re never out of it. I was so disappointed that I fouled on the last play (on Ming’s shot with .08 seconds left). I told the group whatever you do, give me the ball and I’m gonna try to make the shot,” said Roy.
The Trail Blazers led by 10 points with 10 minutes left in regulation but were unable to hold on as Tracy McGrady and the Rockets came back and tied the game up with 10.1 seconds left in regulation. Roy waited atop the three point line for the clock to wind down to make his move, but Ron Artest’s defense forced him to lose control of the ball and kick it. With 0.2 seconds left in regulation McGrady missed a potentially game winning tip-in shot.
Joel Przybilla helped set the tone of the game as he blocked Yao Ming’s first shot, which lead to a fast-break dunk for LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and three blocks
The bench provided a spark tonight as Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez combined for 29 points. Outlaw finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
At halftime, former Trail Blazer Jerome Kersey announced to the crowd that the Trail Blazers would dedicate the season to former player Kevin Duckworth who died in August.
After the game, McMillan explained that apparently Duckworth didn’t want the Blazers to lose on his night.
The Trail Blazers host the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet and The Blazers Radio Network.
Head Coach Nate McMillan
“The guys responded to the challenge. We talked about it today at practice and we all knew what we needed to do to play a full 48 minute game. I think we earned this victory. Big Duck (Kevin Duckworth) on his night apparently was looking down on us. He didn’t want us to lose on his night. But that’s basketball. Your emotions go from high to low and back to high again.
“We really got a break. With just that much time on the clock (0.08 seconds), its just a catch-and-shoot situation. Steve Blake had three options---Rudy, Brandon and Travis. Brandon was the first one who sprang open, receiving the ball well behind the line (three-point). In the huddle I could tell he wanted the ball. He really wanted it. Last night I basically challenged he and LaMarcus and told the whole team we need to finish games.
“For the first time in a long time in the first quarter we saw our guys on the floor battling for the ball. Defensively we played as well as we can, I think, at this stage of the season. We needed this. Everybody played well. I thought Sergio really did a good job.
“Yes this was a big win against a really good team but we can’t overlook anybody. So when Minnesota comes in here Saturday, we’ve got to look at it as a critical home game before a long road trip.”
Brandon Roy
“In this league we’re never out of it. I was so disappointed that I fouled on the last play (on Ming’s shot with .08 seconds left). I told the group whatever you do, give me the ball and I’m gonna try to make the shot. We always talk in practice with .08 you can catch and shoot, you still can get a shot. So I’ve sort of thought it was like practice so when I get the ball I was going to try and get a good look. It was a great shot and I’m just happy to get the win for my team. We’ve beat two of the best teams in the NBA in our building. And we have another game at home. We’ve just gotta believe. That’s what the fans help us do. And that’s what everybody in the locker room believes.
“I kept telling L.A. (LaMarcus Aldridge) in the fourth quarter, just be patient, I’m going to keep coming to you. He carried us all night long. I said ‘I’m going to try to make a play for us down the stretch’ and was fortunate to make the shot.”
Never has the old adage that "it ain't over 'til it's over" been more true than at the Rose Garden tonight.
Brandon Roy's tough turn around jumper with just 1.9 seconds to play in overtime seemed like the end. Then Yao Ming canned a baseline bucket while being fouled by Roy with just 0.8 ticks left. It seemed like the end at that point, too.
But it truly isn't over until it's over. With less than a second on the clock, Steve Blake inbounded to Roy, who, in one fluid motion, turned toward the basket and lobbed up a prayer of a shot. Buckets. Game over.
For as long as the NBA has been including play-by-play information as part of its in-game official statistics package, neither of these things had happened before: eight points in the final 1.9 seconds (both teams combined) or five points in the final 1.9 seconds by a Trail Blazers player . . . Tonight's win was the Trail Blazers first OT game of the season . . . Portland is now 6-3 all-time vs. Rockets in OT . . . Travis Outlaw had a career-high 13 rebounds . . . It's the third time in five games that Brandon Roy has hit a buzzer-beater to end a period . . . Last OT game with Houston was March 22, 2004. The Rockets won, 95-83.
