Monday 20 May 2019 07:35, UK
Damian Lillard has confirmed that he played through separated ribs as the Portland Trail Blazers went 3-0 down to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
Lillard fell heavily in the second half of Game 2 while fighting for a loose ball and landed awkwardly on the court, with Warriors big man Kevon Looney landing on top of him. He grimaced and was slow to get up, but continued with his regular allotment of minutes.
"There's nothing you can really do about it," Lillard said on Sunday. "When I get winded, it's a little harder to breathe."
Lillard wore padding in Game 3 but was just 5-of-18 shooting while scoring 19 points. Portland lost the game 110-99 as Golden State took a 3-0 series lead.
The four-time All-Star is averaging 20.3 points in the series but is just 15-of-46 from the field and has committed 14 turnovers. During the regular season, Lillard averaged 25.8 points, 6.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
The 28-year-old insisted that his ribs aren't the reason for his play being at a lower level than his typical stellar form.
"I don't think it's something that's affecting my game," Lillard said. "It's there, but it's not something that's affecting anything that I'm doing. Obviously you feel it, but that's it," he said.
Game 4 takes place in Portland in the early hours of Tuesday morning live on Sky Sports Arena.
