Lillard: ‘Lot of contact’ by Iguodala on ultimate play

OAKLAND, Calif. — Portland Path Blazers star Damian Lillard believed there was contact earlier than Andre Iguodala’s strip that sealed the Golden State Warriors’ 114-111 win in Thursday night time’s Recreation 2, however did not he blame the referees for not blowing the whistle.

After the Warriors took a foul with 10 seconds remaining, Lillard remoted towards Iguodala on the left wing, making an attempt to create house to shoot a Three-pointer that will have tied the rating.

Nonetheless, Iguodala swiped the ball away together with his proper hand as Lillard went into his capturing movement, making certain that Portland headed house down Zero-2 within the Western Convention finals.

“I do know it is a powerful place for the referees to be in to make a name at that time within the recreation,” mentioned Lillard, who completed with 23 factors however did not rating within the ultimate 7 minutes, 42 seconds. “Tried to get a bit of little bit of house the primary time. He grabbed my arm, and I misplaced the ball a bit of bit. I regained it, and I used to be going to shoot it once more. He acquired his hand on the ball.

“For me because the offensive participant, I felt prefer it was contact. There was a whole lot of contact. However clearly, the ref just isn’t going to determine the sport or leap in at that time. You recognize, so … good defensive play.”

The play put the ending touches on an unpleasant show of crunch-time offense by Portland, which led by 15 factors at halftime and by eight factors after backup heart Meyers Leonard made a Three off a Lillard feed with four:28 remaining.

The Path Blazers missed eight of their ultimate 9 pictures, the lone exception a Three by Seth Curry that put Portland up by a degree with 1:03 remaining. CJ McCollum, the star of the Blazers’ Recreation 7 win over the Denver Nuggets within the West semifinals, missed all 5 of his subject purpose makes an attempt down the stretch.

“We acquired some attractiveness,” mentioned McCollum, who had 22 factors on 9-of-23 capturing. “I personally had some attractiveness. I had an open Three I missed, and I had a floater I missed late. I had a swap with Draymond [Green]; I missed a Three-pointer. I feel it is only a make-or-miss league. They performed good protection, however I can dwell with the pictures I missed on daily basis of the week.”

Inexperienced was a dominant pressure on each ends of the ground throughout Golden State’s rally to shut to recreation regardless of having 5 fouls.

Inexperienced accounted for all 5 of the Warriors’ baskets after the Blazers went up by eight, getting two layups and dishing to teammates for a pair of dunks and a layup. That included an alley-oop to Kevon Looney for a dunk instantly after Portland took its final lead and a layup on the Warriors’ subsequent possession. Inexperienced additionally had two rebounds and blocked one in every of McCollum’s pictures within the ultimate 4 minutes.

“We have been right here earlier than,” mentioned Inexperienced, who had 16 factors, 10 rebounds, seven assists and 5 blocks within the win. “And if you end up on a run like we’re presently in, you’ve got seen every part. And so we’re down eight factors with what, 4 minutes to go or no matter it was, simply acquired to maintain going, as a result of we all know we will erase eight factors in a minute. So at all times understanding that, and having confidence in that’s key, however on the identical time, understanding what it takes and what must be finished so as to do that’s simply as vital, if no more vital.

“So I feel our expertise actually paid off tonight and simply having a bunch of fellows that is by no means going to stop.”