Blazers looking for more shots to fall in Game 3

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard is taking a pragmatic approach to his shooting struggles in Portland’s first two playoff games: It will pass.

Lillard has uncharacteristically hit just 13 of 39 shots from the field, or 33 percent, to open the series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Normally proficient from the perimeter, he’s made just three of 13 3-point attempts.

That’s a drop-off for Lilliard, who shot nearly 42 percent from the field during the regular season, and hit 37 percent of his 3s.

“I’m sure of myself, you know what I mean?” he said “Sometimes you just don’t make shots, sometimes teams have good game plans, and when you do get good shots but you don’t make them and it turns into a bad shooting game. It’s been two games where I haven’t shot well. The first game I didn’t get any attempts up. Last game I came out I was trying to be aggressive and they didn’t go in.”

As Lillard goes, so (usually) do the Blazers. Overall, Portland shot 45 percent from the field in the regular season. The team was ranked fourth in the league from 3-point range, hitting 37 percent.

But Portland’s shooting has dropped to about 37 percent overall against the Clippers, who now hold a two-game advantage going into Saturday night’s Game 3 in Portland.

Lillard’s backcourt teammate, C.J. McCollum, was also struggling against the Clippers, averaging 12.5 points over the first two games after averaging 20.8 points per game during the …

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