Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard wasn't able to get a potential game-tying shot off in the final seconds of Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors thanks to Andre Iguodala's savvy strip, which preserved a 114-111 Warriors victory. However, Lillard thinks there was plenty of contact made and that a foul should've been called:
Lillard didn't want to blame the officiating because he knows how hard the job is, especially at that time of the game, but he was definitely a bit salty about the lack of a foul call on the play.
“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.”
Iguodala may have gotten a bit handsy on the play, but Lillard did also stick his arm out as well, which helped create some of the contact. Also, if a foul was called, there's a chance it may have been called on the floor, resulting in two free throws instead of three.
Either way, Lillard and the Blazers can't dwell too long on this play or the missed opportunity in Game 2 in general. Portland had a 17-point lead at one point and then let a late eight-point advantage slip away down the stretch.
Lillard is going to have to be better if the Blazers are going to make this a series. He was better in Game 2 after a subpar Game 1, but Portland could use more than 23 points from its star point guard. More crunch-time buckets would especially be welcome given the Blazers managed just three points in the last four-plus minutes.
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