An imposter showed up again on Saturday night.

The guy wearing Damian Lillard’s sneakers, shorts and his Trail Blazers jersey in Game 3 against the Warriors didn’t matter much.

Coach Terry Stotts said after the 110-99 loss, “to beat Golden State you gotta be able to score.”

To score, Portland needs Lillard.

The news came after the game: the Blazers star guard has separated ribs. He suffered the injury diving for a loose ball near mid-court in Oakland during Game 2. Golden State’s Kevon Looney toppled over him. Lillard played on, but spent the rest of that game wincing, raising his arm and rubbing his side.

I’ve never had that injury. But I suspect I’d struggle to change a light bulb. Lillard is out there, draped with Draymond Green, trying to score baskets against the best roster of his generation.

The Blazers best player is on fumes.

We can all see it. He put Portland on his back in an emotionally exhausting first-round series with Oklahoma City. Then, he pulled the Blazers’ through a seven-game, mile-high series with the Nuggets. But on the biggest stage of his career Lillard is reaching for a performance that just isn’t there.

His plus/minus on Saturday: -23.

Lillard looked ordinary scoring 19 points. We’re used to seeing the All-Star guard bounce around, drilling threes, zipping to the basket and pointing at his wrist.

On Saturday, Lillard missed too many open shots, had five turnovers, and even clanked a couple of free throws in his 40 minutes played. He’s not just losing this series, 3-0, but getting blown out in the battle of two great backcourts.

“I tried to get aggressive,” Lillard said. “I tried to force the action.”

41 Portland Trail Blazers vs. Golden State Warriors: Western Conference finals Game 3

Forced -- is exactly what it was.

I’m hoping Lillard and the Blazers will rally facing elimination on Monday. I’m hoping he’ll extend the season as he has in two other playoff elimination games, and avoid a sweep. But given what we’ve seen lately, I have limited confidence he’s got anything left.

Saturday’s playoff game marked the 95th game of the 2018-19 season for Lillard -- two more than he’s played in any other season. And his total minutes played -- 2,838 in the regular season and a league-high 607 in the playoffs -- leads the league.

Nobody has carried a team this far by himself.

Now, his ribs are bothering him.

You know that rock climber who free-climbed El Capitan solo? They made a movie about it. But if that guy happens to be watching the NBA playoffs, he’s probably done it in awe, thinking he’s been upstaged by Lillard.

This Blazers’ postseason is the sequel: Free Solo II.

Except Lillard is stuck halfway up the face of the Western Conference Finals, dangling in front of the world. Maybe the embarrassment of that alone will spur the Blazers and their star to find one more performance in them before the summer, and win Game 4.

“Everybody’s tired,” Lillard said. “It’s the third round of the playoffs after a long season.”

Portland has simply asked too much of him. And while the playoffs are about great players turning in special performances and reaching new levels, it’s become evident Lillard cashed his big moments just getting to this point. He has one more field goal (15) than he has turnovers (14) in this series.

Lillard has run 2.75 miles during the playoffs -- fifth most in the NBA this postseason by actual distance traveled. And he’s done it with his teammates on his shoulders.

Lillard could have benefitted with a couple of days off before this series with the Warriors. That seventh game with Denver didn’t allow it. Also, Golden State’s defense game plan, like ones drawn up for other star players, is designed to make Lillard’s life miserable.

They pick him up early, trap him and bump him.

It’s a great plan by Steve Kerr, really, on both ends.

“It takes a lot to deal with that and go out there and chase guys around on the defensive end,” Lillard said.

Steph Curry scored 36 points on Saturday night. It came after scoring 36 and 37 in the first two games of the series. He’s given the Warriors exactly what they needed. Also, Curry -- who has played only 548 minutes this postseason -- had two days off before the start of the conference finals.

Same as Green, who had a triple double in Game 3. And he’s played only 559 postseason minutes. But all this underscores the brilliance of the Warriors, doesn’t it? They’ve paced themselves for a long a deep postseason run.

Curry played 2,331 regular season minutes -- 507 less than Lillard. I can’t help but wonder how the economy of that, and the extra post-season rest, have factored while we’re watching one star shine and the other fade.

The Warriors are more talented, even without Kevin Durant.

Also, they’re fresher.

That combination is proving problematic for Portland. Also, it’s making my “Blazers in six” prediction look more foolish by the game. They now facing the possibility of a sweep.

The Blazers blew another double-digit lead in Game 3. The third quarter has been especially maddening in the last couple of games. On Thursday, Golden State beat Portland 39-24 to start the second half. On Saturday, the Warriors won the third quarter 29-13. That’s not all on Lillard, but we’ve become accustomed to seeing him win that third quarter, not get knocked out in it.

The Blazers had 13 missed free throws in the latest loss.

Another sign of fatigue? Or just a bad night?

No matter which, Golden State has this series in a headlock now. There’s no coming back. The Blazers are broken. That begins and ends with the disappearance of Lillard, who hasn’t looked right since he drained that 37-foot, game-winning shot in Paul George’s face.

Don’t be confused by what you’re seeing out there. Lillard didn’t quit on you. He’s trying. His ribs will heal. Maybe they’ll even win Game 4. But beyond that, there’s a simple, and reasonable, explanation for Lillard’s fade-away job.

Too many miles.

Also, he’s matched up against a talented, unforgiving opponent that is forcing a jack-rabbit pace.

It’s a cruel combination, isn’t it?

During a timeout in the second half on Saturday, a frustrated Lillard took the ball from an official and stood beneath the basket alone. He shot four quick layups with his right hand, as if he was starting his pre-game warm-up routine over. Maybe testing the ribs.

The shots all went in.

The issue isn’t your shot, Dame. It’s everything you’ve sacrificed to get your team to this point.

I wanted to tell him, "Go home Dame, you’re tired,' but I think the Warriors just did.