Damian Lillard Doesn’t Believe Game 2 Loss Was His Oracle Arena Finale

Damian Lillard doesn't think he has played his last game in Oracle Arena.

The Oakland native fell in a two-games-to-none hole in a best-of-seven series with the Warriors on Thursday, as Golden State eked out a 114-111 win over his Portland Trail Blazers. But when the San Francisco Chronicle's Ann Killion asked Lillard if it crossed his mind that Game 2 of the Western Conference finals could have been his last in the building, Lillard sounded confident the Blazers haven't made their final trip to Oakland.

"I doubt this will be the last time. We plan on coming back here."

Dame has no plans on tonight being his last game in Oracle Arena. pic.twitter.com/9v9FPfxTQq— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2019

Lillard started slowly Thursday night, missing all three of his shots in the first quarter. But over the final 36 minutes, he scored 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting (and 5-of-10 from 3-point range).

Considering the 28-year-old shot 40 percent from the field in his last eight games prior to Friday, it's certainly possible Lillard just shot his way out of a slump. If he did, it doesn't seem far-fetched to think the Blazers will force a Game 5.