Hassan Whiteside had plenty of encouragement for Damian Lillard, as the Portland Trail Blazers star couldn't seem to miss any of the important shots that kept his team in the game against a hungry Golden State Warriors team.

The Blazers trailed from the second quarter, but it was Lillard keeping them in the game with timely 3-point bombs and trips to the foul line. Whiteside did his part with 17 points, 21 rebounds, and six blocks in a 129-124 overtime win, but most importantly he encouraged his star to keep taking and making shots while setting gargantuan screens. It certainly worked:

“It’s amazing. Dame played amazing. I just told him to keep shooting, even when you miss, just keep shooting,” said Whiteside, according to Jamie Hudson of NBC Sports Northwest. “I’m going to keep trying to get you open with these screens so keep shooting.”

Closely trailing the Warriors, Lillard corked a pull-up 3-pointer to tie the game and eventually send it to overtime, where he feasted even more, tallying 61 points to snatch the win. Whiteside had an impressive imprint as well, getting a very timely block on a cutting Damion Lee and soon after hitting two vital foul shots to keep the Blazers in the lead. The big man really wanted to hit those clutch freebies:

“I wanted those free throws,” said Whiteside. “I think these last two games have been my worst free-throw shooting games. I think last game I missed three free throws which is the most free throws I missed all season. Dame was just telling me to take my time and knock them down. I’ve been waiting for it and I knocked them down.”

The Lillard-Whiteside duo put up epic performances to down the worst team in the league, but the Blazers need every win they can get — now only two games away from the coveted eighth seed in the West.