Damian Lillard hit a mind-blowing shot from just past half-court to will thePortland Trail Blazers past the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night in a must-win game.- Lillard's shot was shocking to watch in real time, but he had actually teased his half-court range in a interview all the way back in April.
- "I'm gonna do it one of these games, just watch," Lillard said, assuring TNT's Ernie Johnson that he could hit comfortably from the half-court line.
Damian Lillard called his shot.
On Thursday night, Lillard played hero for the Portland Trail Blazers, putting up 42 points in a must-win game against the Nets.
Lillard's most shocking highlight came just minutes into the fourth quarter. With the Blazers in need of a spark, Lillard spotted up from two steps inside of half-court and drilled a three to bring the Blazers back within four.
—NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 14, 2020
For fans watching at home, as well as for play-by-play man Kevin Harlan, who was calling the game for TNT, the shot was mind-blowing; an audacious display of confidence that Lillard wanted to hit both for the points and the message it sent to his team and the league.
But as it turns out, the shot should not have been that shocking. In fact, Lillard had been giving out warnings that he was ready to break out his half-court range in the months leading up to the
Speaking with Ernie Johnson of "Inside the NBA" all the way back in April, Lillard had teased that he could hit from half-court with confidence.
"I mean, I can pull up from half-court comfortably," Lillard said. "The only reason I haven't don't it is because I don't want to push it that far, consistently, because that's just crazy. But I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it one of these games, just watch."
"No, literally," Lillard emphasized. "From the half-court line, watch."
—NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 14, 2020
On Thursday night, Lillard made good on his word, and his not-so-shocking shot helped keep the Blazers hopes of taking home an NBA championship alive.