[速，订，勿接]POR R1G3

Again, the Thunder won Game 3. Give them credit. Contemplate whether the Thunder might even tie the series 2-2 on Sunday. Ask yourself whether Portland will react well to that scenario. But know some things have become clear after watching these teams exchange three-point shots and technical fouls in 12 quarters of play.

A few small truths:

• Oklahoma City played better defense in this third try than it did in either of the first two games.

• The Thunder made some three-point baskets.

• The officials whistled the kind of game that gave OKC a 39-24 advantage in free-throw attempts.

One big truth:

• This is Lillard’s series to lose.

I picked the Thunder in six games before it started. I did so because I watched OKC act as the aggressor in four regular-season games. I saw the snarl in Russell Westbrook and Paul George. And lets face it, the Blazers could hardly be trusted after a couple of playoff sweeps and 10 straight postseason losses.

It may sound insane to write that the Blazers lost, but somehow looked in control. Sort of like asking a driver who was just in a wreck to give you a ride home. But that’s exactly what I’m saying. Portland lost. Their series lead was chopped in half. And I don’t think they’re the least bit worried.

Terry Stotts said after the game, “Our priorities haven’t changed.”

I think the Blazers know they’re the better team. Even without Jusuf Nurkic. In their present state, with Lillard shooting daggers, they feel capable of overcoming a couple of setbacks. That’s much different than a year ago in the playoffs.

Yes, the Thunder won a game. But I’ve developed reasonable doubt they can win three more times in this series. Not without Portland doing some things wrong, including failing to rebound and forgetting to play defense. Because the manner with which Lillard is operating feels like a ticket to the second round.

He’s the best player on the floor, for either team.

The Blazers are on his back now, and they will be again on Sunday.

Lillard struggled in the first half on Friday. He was 2 for 6 shooting for four points. He picked up a couple of fouls. But in the third quarter alone he ripped off 25 points. And I think he might have won the game if so many circumstances weren’t stacked in the Thunder’s favor.

Home court. Officiating. A wave of emotion in the arena that came in conjunction with the 24th anniversary of the OKC Bombing. It just felt all along like it was going to be the Thunder’s night to win. And in the end, it was.

That third quarter was the stuff of legend. Lillard was out there playing pool, driving to the basket and spinning the ball off the glass, with english, over and over.

It was a felony assault of the rim.

The Thunder shot 15 of 29 from three, and the Blazers were somehow still in the game in the fourth quarter. Check that. Not “somehow.” They were in the game because of Lillard.

Westbrook and Paul are still as dangerous as an open can of gasoline around a match. If Portland isn’t careful, those two will get loose and make the series interesting. But I left Game 3 feeling oddly optimistic about the Blazers chances to advance. More so than I did with them up 2-0. More so certainly than I did at the beginning of the series.

Strange, right?

But we all know now that Lillard is not afraid of Westbrook. Not one bit. Westbrook scored 33 and had 11 assists -- probably his best game -- and when the horn sounded, I still had no doubt who the best player in the building was. Also, I wondered if OKC had just saved face by avoiding a sweep.

Usually when a playoff game ends, the winning team looks like it will never lose again. And the losing team looks so broken that it will never win again. But I didn’t get that feel watching the Blazers leave the court.

The Blazers still have to rebound. They still have to play defense. They still need to make sure Lillard gets to the arena. If they fail at any of those basic things, we’ll all change our minds.

The Thunder won Game 3. But Portland didn’t leave work with its head hung low.

Lillard is why.