The Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers just gave us a playoff preview in a thrilling 129-121 overtime battle at the Moda Center.
Entering the game on Thursday, the Blazers, Thunder and Houston Rockets all had the exact same record of 39-25 in a three-way tie in the Western Conference.
The win means the Thunder have now swept the season series against the Blazers..
As the regular season gets closer to its end, the intensity in each game grows and in Portland on Thursday it was well and truly played at a playoff intensity.
The game went right down to the wire and some late drama ensured the contest went into an overtime period.
Jusuf Nurkic was fouled in the paint in the dying seconds but a push and shove with Paul George resulted in him receiving his second technical.
The Thunder then picked Skal Labissière to step in and take the free throws, remarkably his first attempts for the entire season.
DAME from WAY downtown ⌚️ #RipCity pic.twitter.com/e6HKvB7usg
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) March 8, 2019
He missed both, but a loose ball foul against the Thunder saw Al-Farouq Aminu head to the line where he knocked down two and tied the game up.
The loss of Nurkic hurt the Blazers who ran out of gas in overtime as the Thunder ran away to claim the key victory.
Russell Westbrook and Paul George emerged with the win in a tantalizing battle between two of the leagues best one-two punches.
Westbrook and George combined for 69 points, 21 rebounds and 9 assists.
For the Blazers it was Damian Lillard who threw everything he had at the Thunder as he ended with a season-high 51 points and added nine assists.
Along with his backcourt running mate CJ McCollum, the duo ended with 76 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
The Thunder will be back on the court Saturday for a clash against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Portland have an extra day's rest before they take on the Phoenix Suns Sunday at home.