Lillard: Blazers Focused on Game 6 With ‘Backs Against the Wall’

The Portland Trail Blazers are one loss away from exiting the NBA Playoffs after a defeat by the Denver Nuggets in Game 5. However, star point guard Damian Lillard isn’t fretting with the pressure on. He knows Portland hasn’t played up to its high standards yet (via ESPN’s Royce Young):

“We don’t feel like we’ve played our best basketball yet, and with our backs against the wall, we don’t really have a choice,” Lillard said. “So our mindset is just to get the next one, take care of home, and make it back here. So that’s what it is.”

Lillard also highlighted that Portland’s blowout loss only counts as one loss, and the series isn’t over after Game 5:

“Whether you lose by one or you lose by 25, it’s one game,” Lillard said. “We’re going back home to try and force a Game 7 and just make it back here.”

You can read more from Young’s Game 5 dispatch here.