The Trail Blazers didn't just win a series Friday night, they won over a new fan: Houston center Dwight Howard.

Crestfallen and stung after the Blazers won a hard-fought series in six games, Howard said he hopes Portland keeps advancing.

“I congratulate them,’’ Howard said. “I would love to see Damian (Lillard) and LaMarcus (Aldridge) – now that we are out – win. I’m friends with both of them, so I would be proud if they could take it.’’

Said a surprised Lillard: “I guess we won him over.’’

Howard, who had a dominant series averaging 26 points and 13.7 rebounds, stayed on the court after Lillard’s game-winning shot Friday, wading through celebrating Blazers players to shake Lillard’s hand.

“I told him great series. Proud of him,’’ Howard said. “And go win a ‘chip (championship).’’

Lillard said there was only one way to take the compliment from Howard.

“I think that is a sign of respect,’’ Lillard said. “What we were able to get done – we were the underdog, nobody gave us a chance. But what we did on the floor said a lot more than anybody on the outside could say, and Dwight was a part of the series and I think that is a sign of him respecting what we were able to get done.’’

As Howard tried to dissect what went wrong for Houston, he mentioned the Rockets' tendency to relax when things were going well, but he eventually came back to a realization.

"From the first game to tonight, (Portland) played together,'' Howard said.

The Rockets, he insinuated, did not, even though they led for more than 195 of the 303 minutes played in the series, nearly 65 percent of the time.

To control the games so often, for so long, only to come away empty handed left a scar after Lillard hit an improbable game-winning three-pointer to win Game 6.

"I mean, it hurts,'' Howard said. "When you put everything on the floor and someone shoots a dagger like that ... it's tough.''

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