Report: Damian Lillard to avoid fine for ripping referees over blown goaltend call
Damian Lillard will avoid a fine for ripping the referees over a missed goaltend call at the end of Portland’s 117-114 loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
Portland was down 116-114 and Lillard was driving for a layup with 13.5 seconds left. Rudy Gobert went for the block and was credited with one even though the ball clearly went off the glass before Gobert got a piece of it.
NO GOAL TEND CALL ON DAMIAN LILLARD SHOT pic.twitter.com/KfMmFWF8T0
— NBA Hustle (@Hustle_NBA) February 8, 2020
By rule, that should have been a goaltend, which would have tied the game at 116. What’s sad is that it wasn’t even close; it’s a wonder how they missed it. But since it wasn’t called, nothing could be reviewed.
The Jazz made a free throw to take the lead and hung on for victory.
After the game, Lillard had to be restrained from going after the refs over the blown call.
Damian Lillard was furious after the no-call toward the end of the Blazers’ loss. pic.twitter.com/KHrr6AZhgd
— ESPN (@espn) February 8, 2020
He ripped them when talking with the media after the game, saying the refs cost the Blazers the game.
“It cost us the f—ing game, man. … We in a playoff race, and they cost us the game. ”
Damian Lillard didn't hold back after refs missed a goaltend in the final seconds of Blazers/Jazz pic.twitter.com/b3hHwepGBA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 8, 2020
Lillard continued to rip the league on Twitter after the game.
Despite all that, Yahoo’s Chris B. Haynes says Lillard won’t be fined. That’s as clear of an acknowledgement by the NBA of all: we messed up.
