It was April 1. Easter Sunday. And at that point in the season, the Portland Trail Blazers (47-29) were third in the Western Conference. And as they prepared to face the lowly, tanking Memphis Grizzlies (21-55), they were faced with a rather delightful prospect: Win and they were in.
The playoffs, that is. For the fifth straight season.
Their magic number was one.
And it was going to be a great holiday. No foolin’.
The Blazers beat the Grizzlies that day by a score of 113-98.