VIDEO: Lillard closes out win with exclamation point as Blazers snap skid

Across sports, there is little mathematical evidence of athletes being able to sustain a higher level of performance in high-leverage situations. That is, there's nothing backing up claims that certain players are or are not clutch over the long run.

And then there's Damian Lillard, who really doesn't care what the numbers have to say at a macro level, because he is undoubtedly, unquestionably, unfathomably clutch.

Lillard has become the NBA's king of clutch, it's answer to Mariano Rivera when it comes to closing out tight games. He hits playoff game-winners, he leads the league in fourth-quarter scoring and he's absolutely unguardable when the Portland Trail Blazers need a bucket at a key time.

The Blazers have rarely needed a bucket more this season than they did on Monday against the Sacramento Kings. For the first time all season, Portland had dropped three consecutive games, and they were facing a potential fourth straight loss, holding on to a 93-92 lead with 45 seconds to play.

And then Lillard noticed the score, and the clock, and went to work.

Lillard would then uncharacteristically put a scare into the Blazer faithful, hitting just two of four free throws as the Kings fouled for possession, but Portland hung on for the 98-94 victory. The comeback - Portland trailed by eight entering the fourth - keeps the Blazers as the league's lone team with a winning record when trailing after three quarters, which is obscene.

Lillard finished with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead the Blazers, though they may have suffered a bigger loss with the injury to LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Kings, meanwhile, continue to free fall with their fourth consecutive loss, despite a 22-points, 19-rebound, four-block effort from DeMarcus Cousins, who probably permanently feels like this: