Blazers Talk Calls After Rough Loss To Mavericks

Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts and All-Stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard took questions about the officiating after a tough 103-98 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

After digging out of a 30-point hole, Portland conceded an 11-0 closing run to Dallas during the game's final 4:25. During that scoreless stretch, Aldridge was 0-4 from the field and Lillard was 0-for-1 with two turnovers.

On the night, Dallas attempted 13 more free throws (34-21), making 10 more (25-15). In the fourth quarter, Dallas got into the bonus early and attempted 16 free throws to Portland's four. Blazers forward Thomas Robinson fouled out and received a technical foul along the way.

Perhaps the biggest call of the night went against Lillard, who attempted to defend a drive by Devin Harris with 24 seconds left in the game and the score tied. The officials awarded Harris an and-one opportunity, deciding that Lillard was not set on the play, even as Harris appeared to duck his head before making contact with Lillard. The Mavericks didn't look back after Harris completed the go-ahead three-point play.

Here are the quotes from Stotts, Aldridge and Lillard on the officiating via Blazers.com.

Terry Stotts

On Foul Call On Lillard Late In The Fourth Quarter:
"I didn't agree with the call."

Did You Think It Was A Charge?:
"A charge or a no-call, yeah. It was [a big play]. I'm not going to complain about the officials. I disagree with the call. It was the play of the game, because it was a tie game and a three-point play - it changes everything."

Damian Lillard

On Late Foul Against Devin Harris:
"He busted my mouth open. I knew that I wasn't all the way in front of him but I figured since he dipped his head into my face they would call an offensive foul. But they called it the other way and that is something we had to live with. We still had a couple opportunities after that that we didn't take advantage of."

LaMarcus Aldridge

On Calls Down The Stretch:
"I definitely feel that there were some calls that they got earlier that I didn't get late....I feel like on some offensive rebounds I got hit a few times. I have to be better down the stretch and I just have to make those shots."

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com has Robinson's reaction to the technical foul.

"It was stupid," he said. "I shouldn't have got the tech. I play with emotions, man. It comes out good sometimes and sometimes it comes out bad. It was bonehead, though. I probably could have found another way to express my emotions but that's who I am. I apologized to my teammates and tried to make the best I could with the ref after that."

The loss dropped Portland to 42-20 on the season. Aldridge finished with 30 points (on 13-for-28 shooting), 17 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Lillard had 10 points (on 3-for-10 shooting), four assists and three rebounds.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter