Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Lillard: 'Lot of contact' by Iguodala on final play

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Friday, 17 May 2019 00:09

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard believed there was contact before Andre Iguodala's strip that sealed the Golden State Warriors' 114-111 win in Thursday night's Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, but he didn't blame the referees for not blowing the whistle.

After the Warriors fouled with 10 seconds remaining, Lillard isolated against Iguodala on the left wing, attempting to create space to shoot a 3-pointer that would have tied the score.

However, Iguodala swiped the ball away with his right hand as Lillard went into his shooting motion, ensuring that Portland headed home down 0-2.

"I know it's a tough position for the referees to be in to make a call at that point in the game," said Lillard, who finished with 23 points but didn't score in the final 7 minutes, 42 seconds. "Tried to get a little bit of space the first time. He grabbed my arm, and I lost the ball a little bit. I regained it, and I was going to shoot it again. He got his hand on the ball.

"For me, as the offensive player, I felt like it was contact. There was a lot of contact. But, obviously, the ref is not going to decide the game or jump in at that point. You know, so ... good defensive play."

The play put the finishing touches on an ugly display of crunch-time offense by Portland, which led by 15 points at halftime and eight points after backup center Meyers Leonard made a 3 off a Lillard feed with 4:28 remaining.

The Trail Blazers missed eight of their final nine shots, the lone exception a 3 by Seth Curry that put Portland up by a point with 1:03 remaining. CJ McCollum, the star of the Blazers' Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets in the West semifinals, missed all five of his field goal attempts down the stretch.

"We got some good looks," said McCollum, who had 22 points on 9-of-23 shooting. "I personally had some good looks. I had an open 3 I missed, and I had a floater I missed late. I had a switch with Draymond [Green]; I missed a 3-pointer. I think it's just a make-or-miss league. They played good defense, but I can live with the shots I missed every day of the week."

Green was a dominant force on both ends of the floor during Golden State's rally to close the game despite having five fouls.

Green accounted for all five 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 immediately after Portland took its last lead and a layup on the Warriors' next possession. Green also had two rebounds and blocked one of McCollum's shots in the final four minutes.

"We've been here before," said Green, who had 16 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks in the win. "And when you are on a run like we are currently in, you've seen everything. And so we're down eight points with what, four minutes to go or whatever it was, just got to keep going, because we know we can erase eight points in a minute. So, always understanding that and having confidence in that is key, but at the same time, understanding what it takes and what needs to be done in order to do that is just as important, if not more important.

"So I think our experience really paid off tonight and just having a bunch of guys that's never going to quit."

Read 541 times

Soccer

Ex-Uruguay striker Forlán loses pro doubles debut

Ex-Uruguay striker Forlán loses pro doubles debut

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- Former soccer star Diego Forlán's newfound c...

New video puts ref Coote under fresh scrutiny

New video puts ref Coote under fresh scrutiny

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPGMOL, the refereeing body for English football, has confirmed that...

Pulisic: USMNT given 'reset' by Pochettino arrival

Pulisic: USMNT given 'reset' by Pochettino arrival

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAC Milan star Christian Pulisic praised a "reset" for the United St...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Former employee files civil lawsuit against Suns

Former employee files civil lawsuit against Suns

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA former Phoenix Suns employee sued the team Wednesday, citing alle...

Cavs hold off Sixers, 6th team ever to start 13-0

Cavs hold off Sixers, 6th team ever to start 13-0

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- Donovan Mitchell scored 11 of his 23 points in the...

Baseball

Williams' Medal of Freedom, MVP up for auction

Williams' Medal of Freedom, MVP up for auction

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- Ted Williams' Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was pr...

Guardians, AL Central champions, tweak staff

Guardians, AL Central champions, tweak staff

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made some tweaks to Cle...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated