Lillard Beats Buzzer, Mavs and Nets Force Game 7

The first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs is going to end at some point. The teams involved are doing all they can to make sure that it takes as long as possible for that to happen.

No complaints from my end.

The madness of a legendary opening round continued as three teams looked to close out their respective series on Friday, May 2. Two of those teams came up short, while the third cashed in on the opportunity in the most glorious way imaginable: a game-winning buzzer-beater.

Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.

1. Deron Williams scored 23 points as the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 97-83 in an ugly, lopsided affair. Toronto shot 38.5 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc, while Brooklyn converted just 6-of-21 attempts from distance in a grind-it-out affair.

Neither franchise has ever won a Game 7. That will change on Sunday, May 4.

2. Monta Ellis and Tony Parker dueled as the Dallas Mavericks survived the San Antonio Spurs 113-111. Ellis went off for 29 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, while Parker tallied 22 for the Spurs.

Prior to this game, the Spurs had been 25-0 on the road when entering the fourth quarter with a lead.

3. Danny Green had 17 total points in the series before Game 6. He had 17 points during Game 6.

4. Damian Lillard hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 99-98 victory over the Houston Rockets. James Harden tallied 34 points and Dwight Howard posted 26 and 11 rebounds, scoring 13 in the fourth quarter alone, but it was Portland that struck when it mattered most.

This is the first time Portland has won a playoff series since 2000.