Stotts: Blazers' Lillard (finger) playing in Game 3 vs. Lakers

Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Friday that star guard Damian Lillard will play in Saturday night's playoff contest against the Los Angeles Lakers despite suffering a dislocated left index finger in Thursday's game.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Friday that star guard Damian Lillard will play in Saturday night's playoff contest against the Los Angeles Lakers despite suffering a dislocated left index finger in Thursday's game. Stotts said Lillard was being examined Friday and undergoing a battery of tests.

"He's getting treatments today," Stotts told reporters. "Multiple treatments throughout the day. I believe he'll be wearing a splint, but he will play." Lillard was injured while playing defense in the third quarter of Thursday's 111-88 loss to the Lakers when he hit the finger on the foot of Lakers forward Anthony Davis. He immediately grabbed the finger and asked to be replaced. He didn't return.

The Blazers' setback leaves the best-of-7 Western Conference series tied at 1-1. Lillard insisted after the contest that he wouldn't miss Game 3, saying "Oh, I'm playing."

Stotts wasn't the least surprised with Lillard's mindset. "At this point we kind of expect this from Dame," Stotts said Friday.

Lillard made six 3-pointers and scored 34 points when the Trail Blazers defeated the Lakers 100-93 in Game 1. He had 18 points in Game 2 before exiting but was just 1-of-7 from 3-point range. --Field Level Media