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Dame claps back at Pat Bev, Paul George following Blazers loss

Steve Dykes / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard missed a pair of crucial free throws down the stretch of Saturday's 122-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, prompting quite the reaction from Patrick Beverley.

The Clippers guard mocked Lillard's signature "Dame Time" celebratory gesture and then waved him goodbye, just as Portland's five-time All-Star did when he walked off the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year's postseason.

Lillard responded to Beverley's antics postgame and reminded him of a pair of his previous playoff heroics.

"Asking me about Patrick Beverley … I sent him home before at the end of a game. Paul George just got sent home by me last year in the playoffs," Lillard told reporters, including Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. "The reason they're reacting like that is because of what they expect from me, which is a sign of respect, and it just shows what I've done at a higher clip more times than not. So I'm not offended by it.

"If anything, it should just tell you how much it hurt them to go through what I put them through in those situations previously."

The trio continued to exchange jabs on social media following Saturday's contest.

Lillard buried an ice-cold triple at the buzzer in the opening round of the 2014 NBA playoffs, eliminating Beverley and the Houston Rockets.

Five years later, the 30-year-old repeated history against the Thunder, drilling a deep 3-pointer over George to send Portland into the second round of the postseason.

The two clubs are unlikely to meet again this season, with the Trail Blazers still needing to qualify for the playoffs. Portland sits 1 1/2 games behind the eight-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and holds a 1/2-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs for the West's No. 9 spot.

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