Damian Lillard Says Iguodala Made 'Lot Of Contact', Doesn't Blame Officials

Damian Lillard was the top scorer for the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors but it was also him that had the ball stolen off his hand with around 10 seconds to play as the Warriors won 114-111 to a take a 2-0 lead. Andre Iguodala made the steal in his second attempt and ensured there was no “Dame Time” a phrase made famous by Lillard with his last minute three-pointers.

The referees did not see anything wrong with Iguodala’s play in the final seconds and let the clock continue running but the Trail Blazers point guard indicated after that there was “a lot of contact”. Lillard, however, refused to blame the officials for not calling it a foul and eventually admitted it was good defensive play.

“I know it's a tough position for the referees to be in to make a call at that point in the game," Lillard said after the game at the Oracle Arena, as quoted on ESPN. "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 Trail Blazers point guard added.

The Trail Blazers had plenty of chances of leveling the seven game series and taking an unexpected win on the road. They led by as many as 15 at half-time and then again by eight points with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

But the Warriors used their championship experience to tie the game and stifle the Trail Blazers’ offense. Lillard , who ended the night with 23 points, failed to register a bucket in the final 7 minutes and 42 seconds of the game.

Steve Kerr admitted after Game 2 that his Warriors team had stolen the victory after accepting that the Trail Blazers had outplayed his team for majority of the night. The Portland franchise will be at home for Game 3 and 4 and Lillard was confident that they will return to the Oracle Arena for Game 5.