Lillard after sweep: Pelicans 'threw something at us that we hadn't seen'

Damian Lillard just went from being one of the hottest players in the NBA to one of the coldest. After averaging 30.5 points per game from Feb. 9 until the end of the regular season, the point guard was effectively shut down in the Trail Blazers' playoff sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans.

In Saturday's clincher, the Pelicans held Lillard to 19 points and just 1-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. In four games, he shot just 35.2 percent from the floor and 30 percent from deep.

"It's a disappointing end for us," Lillard said, according to KOIN 6's AJ McCord. "It's not how we envisioned it happening for us, especially getting home court."

Pels point guard Jrue Holiday primarily made life difficult for Lillard in the series, although New Orleans often threw double-teams at the three-time All-Star. That forced Portland to try and win on the back of C.J. McCollum; with no real presence on the wings or in the frontcourt, that wasn't in the cards. The Pelicans won the series on a point differential of plus-36.

Anthony Davis averaged 33 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans.

"They came in with a great defensive game plan," Lillard said. "Threw something at us that we hadn't seen and it worked out for them."

Saturday's loss was Portland's 10th straight in the postseason, dating back to the second round of the 2016 playoffs.