POOL REPORT ON THE COACHES CHALLENGE AT THE 0.9 MARK IN THE THIRD QUARTER:

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY KEVIN PELTON (ESPN.com) WITH CREW CHIEF ED MALLOY FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S MIAMI HEAT AT PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS GAME

February 9, 2020

QUESTION: Why was Terry Stotts’ challenge of the shooting foul on Damian Lillard at the 0:00.9 mark of the third quarter successful?

MALLOY: “After replay review, we saw that Damian Lillard got to the basketball – it was a legal block. While Lillard was going to jump to the side of Goran Dragic, Dragic extended his right leg, initiating the contact with Lillard. That is why it was successful.”

QUESTION: Why was the play ruled a loose-ball foul rather than an offensive foul?

MALLOY: “By rule, when the defense deflects the ball the status of the ball becomes loose. After the clean block by Lillard, the ball was loose. Then, Dragic extended his right leg, causing the illegal contact with Lillard. Therefore, it was a loose-ball foul.”