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Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard blew a chance to win Saturday's showdown with the Los Angeles Clippers by uncharacteristically missing two crucial free throws late in the fourth quarter.
Following the game, Lillard admitted that the misses bothered him because it could have given them a much-needed win, especially since the Blazers are currently in a heated race for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference.
However, Lillard also shrugged off that this would rattle his confidence moving forward:
“It bothers me,” the five-time All-Star guard said, via The Oregonian. “It hurt because it’s a game that we would have loved to have and would have helped us a lot in the race that we’re in. But as far as being on the floor and doing what I do, it won’t affect me at all.”
Lillard also admitted that he felt confident as he headed to the line to shoot the two freebies that would have put Portland on top. He certainly had every right to be given he's an 88.9 percent shooter from the foul line.
Nonetheless, the All-NBA guard acknowledged how things like these can happen from time to time.
“I was just like, sometimes I guess that has to happen,” Lillard said.
The best way to go about it is to move forward and go on to the next one, though Lillard did find himself in a beef with Paul George (and Patrick Beverley, to a lesser extent) after the game.
The 122-117 loss certainly stings, especially since a win would have elevated them closer to the No.8 Memphis Grizzlies. Likewise, it would have create more separation from the scorching Phoenix Suns, who remain the only undefeated team in the bubble.
Lillard and the Blazers will be right back in action on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The final two seeding games will be against the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets. These three contests will certainly be crucial for the Blazers as they look to punch their ticket back into the playoffs.
