On the fourth and final game of their homestand, the Portland Trail Blazers edged out the Brooklyn Nets in double overtime to seal their sixth-straight playoff berth.
Jusuf Nurkic, who suffered a serious left leg injury in the double-overtime period, was the star performer for the Blazers with 32 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals on 13-of-24 shooting.
MORE: NBA Players tweet in support of Jusuf Nurkic
All-Star Damian Lillard was not far behind in production, recording his third 30-point, 10-assist double-double in the last four games with 31 points and 12 assists.
⌚️ @Dame_Lillard goes off for 31 PTS, 12 AST against BKN as the @trailblazers secure an #NBAPlayoffs berth! #RipCity pic.twitter.com/0LYwGhtTRt
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2019
It was a high scoring contest between both benches as Portland's reserves narrowly outscored their counterparts 66-59.
This will also be Damian Lillard's sixth-straight trip to the playoffs, having only missed out in his rookie season.
Recording their 46th win of the year, the Blazers are now just 0.5 games behind the third-seeded Houston Rockets.
Nurkic will miss the remainder of the season after suffering 'sustained compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula' the team announced, while CJ McCollum (knee) will miss their upcoming four-game road trip.
Meanwhile, in Memphis, the Oklahoma City Thunder were stunned by the Grizzlies with former Toronto Raptor Bruno Caboclo top-scoring with 24 points.
A career-high 24 PTS with 11 REB from @Bruno_Caboclo guides the @memgrizz victory! #GrindCity pic.twitter.com/503qHYZyTs
— NBA (@NBA) March 26, 2019
All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George combined for 16-of-49 shooting from the field and 6-of-21 from beyond the arc, resulting in the Thunder suffering their fifth loss in the last six games.
Goerge finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds, while Westbrook recorded 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
The OKC franchise now has a record of 6-11 since the All-Star break.
From legitimately contending for home court during the All-Star Weekend, the Thunder are now at the bottom of the West playoff picture.
