The Portland Trail Blazers were one stop and 3.4 seconds away from winning the game of their season Wednesday night against the New York Knicks at the Moda Center.

Second-year guard Scoot Henderson had captained a statement performance with 30 points, getting the crunch-time call-up and delivering with big bucket after big bucket. Do-it-all forward Deni Avdija had just given the Blazers a 113-111 lead with a physical and-1, part of his 27 points and 15 rebounds. The Blazers had scrapped, clawed, and battled from down and out in regulation to on top in overtime, ready to sprint away to a three-day break with the feel-good win of the year.

Then Knicks forward Mikal Bridges ripped the hearts out of Rip City with one dribble and a leaning 3-pointer from the top of the key that swished with conviction. The Knicks mobbed their hero at the midcourt line. Blazers players and fans stood stunned in silence, facing the sudden reality of a 114-113 loss.

“What can I say, man?” Avdija said at the postgame podium. “It’s a little heartbreaking.”

Legendary NBA broadcaster Mike Breen was on hand for the call. He serves as the Knicks lead play-by-play announcer for MSG Networks when he isn’t calling national games. The buzzer-beating shot from Bridges — who scored a game-high 33 points — was worthy enough to warrant a rare double BANG! from Breen. The veteran broadcaster has broken out the signature call just nine times in his career, reserving it for only the most dramatic shots. In a game that featured 42 lead changes, one shy of the NBA record since the tracking era began, Bridges gave New York the final say. (Rewatch the game-winner below, if you can bear it).

Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups discussed that final defensive possession in detail in the postgame press conference. It was just 3.4 seconds, but a lot went down in terms of execution as Bridges inbounded the ball to Josh Hart near halfcourt, got the ball back on a handoff and went for game.

First, Billups cited youth as an issue. The Blazers wanted to use their foul to give on the handoff to prevent Bridges from even attempting that shot, but they didn’t take it. Then Billups pointed the finger at himself, saying it was a mistake to keep Donovan Clingan in for the possession. The 7-foot-2 rookie center got switched onto Bridges far out on the perimeter during the play. While Billups commended Clingan’s contest on the shot, he felt the defense would’ve been better matched up for the play with somebody else in.

“This is all a part of all our development — not just the team, it’s myself, too,” Billups said. “If I had a do-over, I would’ve taken [Clingan] out. That’s on me. That’s not on them.”

Despite Bridges’ heroics rendering this game to moral victory status for the Blazers, Avdija said the team can “100%” still appreciate the positives from the loss. At the forefront of that list is Henderson, who seemed to go up another level against the Knicks.

Henderson was Portland’s sparkplug in the third quarter, then he was its savior in the fourth. With Anfernee Simons posting a cold-shooting night, Billups closed with Henderson. The young guard produced 18 fourth-quarter points, including eight straight points in the final 70 seconds to rescue the Blazers from a six-point deficit. He made the Knicks defense look like an episode of “Tom and Jerry” as he evaded larger players in the paint with speed and craft. He also shot 4-4 from deep, getting his 30-piece on an efficient 10-16 shooting.

“I’m proud of him. He’s not shy from the ball,” Avdija said about Henderson. “ … He’s still gonna have to figure close-game situations, but he’s young, he’s super talented, and I think once he does it multiple times, he’s gonna be very special. He’s special now.”

“I’m comfortable in those [late-game] situations,” Henderson added. “At the end of the day, it’s basketball, so I worked my whole life to be in those situations, so you gotta be careful what you ask for if you’re scared of those situations.”

Outside of Henderson, several other key young Blazers played well. Avdija registered his second straight double-double with at least 25 points and 15 rebounds. Clingan produced an effective six points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in a career-high 34 minutes. Shaedon Sharpe provided 21 points and nine rebounds. Toumani Camara received a standing ovation from the Moda Center crowd for his usual dogged hustle when he fouled out in OT.

Wednesday’s outcome marked the Blazers’ fifth consecutive loss and sixth loss in seven tries, another blow in a rough patch that has dramatically hurt Portland’s play-in chances. The loss also continued a trend shown during most of Portland’s recent losses in which they’ve hung in until the very end. Before Bridges deflated Portland, March began with a heartbreaking OT loss on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers. A feisty comeback came up just short against the resurgent Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Avdija is hanging his hat on these competitive losses as signs of progress. In a season that was bound to be measured by moral victories, the ones gained in these recent heartbreakers have felt promising, even if they’ve stung.

“We’re right there against very good teams,” Avdija said. “We’re creating a lot of trouble for the opponents. I’m just proud of how we play.”