25 for 25, No. 5

Over the final six weeks until the start of training camp, we will be counting down the 25 best individual performances by Trail Blazers players in the last 25 years.

Introducing 25 for 25

Counting down the 25 best Trail Blazers performances of the last 25 years.

The Rose Garden ReportSean Highkin

Other entries: 25-23 | 22-21 | 20-19 | 18-17 | 16-15 | 14-13 | 12-11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

The player: LaMarcus Aldridge
The game: April 20, 2014 at Houston Rockets (Game 1, first round)
The stats: 46 points, 17-of-31 shooting (54.8%), 2-of-2 three-pointers, 10-of-13 free throws (76.9%), 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks in 45 minutes

Damian Lillard ended the Trail Blazers' series against the Rockets in 2014, getting them out of the first round for the first time since 2000. But it was LaMarcus Aldridge that started it, with back-to-back 40-point performances that gave Portland a 2-0 series lead taking both of the first two games on the road.

It was the high-water mark for one of the best players in franchise history.