Damian Lillard said the Trail Blazers' spirit came to the fore in Friday's quadruple-overtime win over the Nuggets that he called "the craziest game I've ever been a part of."
Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series proved to be an epic, with Portland finally emerging victorious at Moda Center 140-137 in the first NBA playoff game to reach a fourth overtime period since 1953.
Rodney Hood hit the game-winning 3-pointer, and Lillard, who scored 28 points, hailed the Trail Blazers' character.
4th time's a charm. #RipCity pic.twitter.com/KRZx6Ci8sw
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 4, 2019
"That's the craziest game I've ever been a part of," the guard told the team's courtside reporter.
"Each overtime it seemed like we come out with a five-point lead, then they go up," Lillard said. "Then next overtime it reversed, we just kept flip-flopping. Each team just kept giving the other team life. We were just allowing the game to continue – both teams.
"Coach (Terry Stotts) said at halftime, 'It's going to come down to who's gonna dig the deepest'.
"Everybody was out there tired, fatigued, a long game, and I thought we dug a little deeper tonight."
MORE LIKE RODNEY GOOD AMIRITE pic.twitter.com/aiHITWiTXH
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 4, 2019
Lillard felt the will to win on home court was a driving factor for Portland, too.
Asked if the team was running on adrenaline, he replied: "Adrenaline, pride. You look up at the scoreboard, and you're thinking about how you're going to feel after the game is over.
"We want to protect the home floor, we want to get his win. I think everybody showed that."
It could prove to be a pivotal victory, with a fatigued Denver team having already gone all the way to a Game 7 in its previous series with the Spurs.
"(It's) huge," Lillard said. "Game 3 at home, we split on their floor. These are the ones you've got to have. You've got to protect your home floor.
"They made us work for it, and I'm proud of how our team responded."
The two teams meet again on Sunday in Game 4.