Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard is facing an uncertain road ahead after suffering a left lower leg injury that forced him to exit Sunday night’s 129-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter. With an MRI scheduled for Monday, both the team and fans are anxiously awaiting insights into the severity of the injury, which reports suggest may involve his Achilles tendon.
The injury occurred as Lillard fought for an offensive rebound midway through the first quarter. After tapping the ball away from a Pacers player, he fell to the floor, clutching his left leg. Following a defensive possession, he was unable to continue, needing assistance to leave the court without putting weight on the injured leg. Coach Doc Rivers shared a grim perspective postgame, indicating that the initial evaluation does not look promising.
“I knew it right away,” Rivers reflected, expressing his concern. “I felt bad for him; the guy tried to come back for his team.” Lillard was spotted in a walking boot and on crutches as he departed the arena, painting a picture of a serious situation. Teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo echoed that sentiment, stating, “When you see a guy like that not able to walk on his own, you know this might be serious. Then, you hope for the best-case scenario.”
Lillard’s exit came with 5:57 left in the first quarter and the Bucks trailing 15-12, a moment that understandably shook the team’s morale. “Dame’s one of them special ones,” emphasized guard Kevin Porter Jr. “He’s very much needed, very much impactful in every way. Seeing him go down and not be able to return, it’s definitely defeating.”
As the Bucks trail the series 3-1 against the Pacers, Game 5 looms large on Tuesday in Indianapolis. This has been a challenging postseason for Milwaukee and especially for Lillard, who just returned to action in Game 2 after missing the last 14 regular-season games due to deep vein thrombosis in his right leg – a recovery the team labeled “unprecedented.” Unfortunately, in this series, Lillard hasn’t quite regained his typical form, posting averages of just 10.5 points and 6.0 assists on a tough 24% shooting through the first two games. He didn’t convert on any of his attempts in Game 4 prior to his injury.
Bucks forward Bobby Portis lamented the situation, saying, “When a guy just works as hard as he can to get back on the court, then those things like that happen, it’s very sad for him. Sad for us for real. We need him out there.”
Following Lillard’s injury, the Pacers swiftly capitalized, launching on a 10-3 run that pushed them to a double-digit lead. This marked the second consecutive game where Indiana held a sizeable advantage at halftime, ultimately securing a 26-point victory – the second-largest home playoff loss in Bucks history, according to ESPN Research.
For Pacers center Myles Turner, the nature of the NBA transcends competition. He stated, “This time of the year, I think everybody gets so caught up in all the antics and the playoff rivalry. At the end of the day, this league’s a brotherhood, man. There’s only 450 of us, and he’s always been one of my favorite competitors since I’ve been in this league. Just thoughts and prayers. You never want to see anything like this happen, no matter how competitive these playoffs are.”
The Bucks find themselves down 3-1 in a playoff series for the third straight season, and as they await clear news from Lillard’s MRI, the team must rally together and adapt. “I think everybody in the locker room knows what the deal is,” Antetokounmpo noted. “The next guy got to step up. We got to do what we got to do, move the ball, play together, try to win the game and come back.”
It’s a pivotal moment for Milwaukee, and embracing the next-man-up mentality will be crucial as they fight to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
