----- Anfernee Simons scores a career-high 37-points as the Portland Trail Blazers finish the season with a 136-131 win over the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night at Moda Center.
The NBA, where the improbable happens.
Playing just six guys and a starting lineup that featured Meyers Leonard, Skal Labissiere, Gary Trent Jr., Jake Layman, and Anfernee Simons, the Portland Trail Blazers came back from a 28-point deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings locking up the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs and a match up with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game one is Sunday afternoon at Moda Center scheduled for a 12:30 PM tip.
“It was a hell of a game,” Terry Stotts said. “I was really proud of those six guys who played.”
Blazers rookie Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with a game-high 37 points on 13-for-21 shooting including 7-of-11 from three-point range playing a full 48-minutes.
''That was fun. That was probably the best time I've had all season,'' Simons said. ''Just winning by coming back from down 28. We all stuck together and our teammates all helping us out the whole way. That was fun.''
Simons had plenty of help from the rest of the guys who played. Labissiere scored 29 points and pulled down 15 rebounds with Layman, Leonard, and Trent Jr. each adding 19 points.
Now Portland (53-29) will focus their attention on the Oklahoma City Thunder looking to end their 10-game losing streak in the playoffs.
''We know that we're capable of beating them. Each game this season came down to a possession here, a possession there,'' Damian Lillard said. ''It's going to be a tough, tough series. And I think we've got to go out and just be aggressive going into it. Our mentality has to be as the aggressor, go in there with the attitude that we're getting it done.''
The Thunder swept the season series from Portland 4-0 with each game being decided by single-digits.
The Trail Blazers finished the season going 14-3 over the final 17 games. This is Portland's sixth-straight trip to the post season.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers begin their first round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday at Moda Center. Game one is scheduled to tip off at 12:30 PM.
Chad's Take- I don't believe what I just saw!
Playoff Schedule:
Game 1:Sunday, April 14, Thunder at Blazers, 12:30 p.m. on ABC
Game 2:Tuesday, April 16, Thunder at Blazers, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Game 3:Friday, April 19, Blazers at Thunder, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Game 4:Sunday, April 21, Blazers at Thunder, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Game 5*:Tuesday, April 23,Thunder at Blazers, time TBD on TBD
Game 6*:Thursday, April 25,Blazers at Thunder, time TBD on TBD
Game 7*:Saturday, April 27,Thunder at Blazers, time TBD on TNT
*if necessary