Blazers’ Damian Lillard Calls Out Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell After Spat In Game

Damian Lillard and D’Angelo Russell aren’t on good terms right now.

Blazers’ Damian Lillard Calls Out Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell After Spat In Game

On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers led the Portland Trail Blazers by two points at halftime, as Portland’s start point guard Lillard had begun the game missing nine of his first 10 shots. The Lakers’ Russell, meanwhile, had contributed six assists along with four points and five rebounds in a half during which he also recorded a triple-double.

Russell fouled Lillard on his way to the basket in the third quarter of the game, which Portland won 108-87. Lillard took offense and the two guards had to quickly be separated. When both players received technical fouls, the Lakers trailed 64-63.

Lillard described the incident to CSN Northwest after the game and called out Russell for elbowing him.

“Since last game, he’d been doing little slick elbows, and I play the game clean,” said Lillard, who didn’t seem pleased with how Russell had been guarding him in the two meetings between the teams this season. “I’m from Oakland. I ain’t with that extra stuff. Nobody can do just what they want to me. And I got called for a foul to start the third quarter for reaching in, but when I reached in, the only reason there was contact was because his elbow came up again.”

Lillard proceeded by explaining the double-technical foul incident. “After he blocked my shot, I was walking to my spot, and I felt he went out of his way to get that elbow in there again. I told him, ‘Man, that ain’t going to fly.’ And I wasn’t interested in anything else that was said after that.”

Ultimately, Lillard issued a clear challenge to Russell following Tuesday night’s game: “We ain’t going to do it on the court, so we’ll be in the back, and whatever happens, happens. It was nothing. He poked the bear, and you see what happened after the game.”

Russell missed his next four shots in the third quarter, and only scored two points for the rest of the game. He finished with nine points, six assists and eight rebounds.

Lillard, on the other hand, awoke from his slow start and scored six more points after the verbal spat.

MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 20:  Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers brings the ball up the floor during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 20, 2015 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice:  (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)