----- Damian Lillard misses back-to-back free throws with 18.6 seconds remaining as the LA Clippers edge the Portland Trail Blazers 122-117 Saturday afternoon in Orlando.
Saturday's game against the LA Clippers was a case of missed opportunities for the Portland Trail Blazers.
With 2:58 to play in Saturday's game against the Clippers, Portland was in control after a Jusuf Nurkic free throw gave Portland a commanding 115-110 lead. What took place next was a total disaster for Blazers.
The Clippers were already playing without Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, and Montrezl Harrell, and Paul George didn't play in the final 5:09 of the game as Doc Rivers was looking to load-manage his guys playing in the first of a back-to-back. The Clippers role-players sparked LA to a 12-2 run in the final three-minutes.
The late-game collapse by the Blazers was complete when Damian Lillard missed consecutive free throws with 18.6 seconds to play with Portland trailing 118-117. The Clippers capitalized with free throws from JaMychal Green and Landry Shamet as the Clippers sent the Blazers to a bitter 122-117 defeat.
“I was disappointed with both ends in the last few minutes,” Portland Coach Terry Stotts said. “Defensively, we didn’t move around. Offensively, we didn’t get the shots we wanted, didn’t move the ball as well as we needed to and the shots we did get, we didn’t make.”
Lillard gave a very honest assessment on the missed opportunities and missed free throws following the loss.
“They made the plays that we didn’t make,” Lillard said. “Every breakdown on the defensive end, they made us pay for it. They made shots, got rebounds and they got second and third opportunities.
“And then at our offensive end, we just didn’t execute very well. Once I got to the line, down one, I felt good about that, I said, ‘OK, we’re going to be up one.’ Come down, get a stop and then it’s a free-throw game.
“Left the first one short. And then left another one short. Sometimes, I guess that has to happen. Particularly at the end of the game, I always feel like I’m going to come up big. I’ve experienced so many of those moments. I guess sometimes you come up short.
“I left two free throws short. We lost a game we really needed to win and we’ve got another one tomorrow (against the Philadelphia 76ers).”
Both Beverley and George were taunting Lillard at the end of the game and following the game on social media.
“PG had to wave, because he also was surprised because of what he experienced at the end of a game last year. Let me just say this, for one -- I know what happened. I expect myself to make those free throws. And I didn’t. The team needed it, which was a failure for me that I can accept.
“Asking me about Patrick Beverley, who I sent him home before at the end of a game, Paul George got sent home by me at the end of the playoffs. So they know their reaction is a sign of respect for me from what they expect from me at the end of a game.
“It just shows what I’ve done at a high clip more times than not. If anything, it should tell you how much it hurt them to know what I put them through in those situations.”
The Blazers scorched the Nets in the first half taking a 75-69 lead into the break, but their offense grew stagnant in the second half resulting in a disappointing 42 points.
CJ McCollum led Portland with 29 points and Damian Lillard added 22, but he connected on just 2-of-10 from three-point range. Gary Trent Jr. continued sensational play finishing with 22 points connecting on 6-of-10 from three-point range. He has connected on 28-of-45 threes in the bubble (62.2%).
Jusuf Nurkic once again peppered the stat sheet for Portland coming up just one assist shy of a triple-double finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers will meet the Sixers on Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled to tip off at 3:30 PM.
Chad's Take- That loss can't happen. The Clippers tried to give the game to Portland by resting Kawhi, Beverley, Harrell, and sitting George for the final five-minutes of the game and Portland blew it. The loss will likely prevent the Blazers from getting to the 8-seed, which means at best they will have to rely on winning two-games in the play-in assuming they get that opportunity.