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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks is currently listed as questionable for Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. This marks a positive development for the seven-time All-NBA guard, who has been sidelined for the past month.
On Thursday, the Bucks announced that Lillard had stopped taking blood-thinning medication and was cleared for full basketball activities after recovering from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. The Bucks are likely to benefit from Lillard’s return, especially after their disappointing 117-98 loss in Game 1, where they made only 9 out of 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
The update on Lillard’s status came through the injury report on Monday, following comments from coach Doc Rivers, who expressed uncertainty about Lillard’s availability for Tuesday’s game but acknowledged the player’s ongoing progress.
“Today’s practice didn’t include much live action, but he did participate in everything,” Rivers stated after Monday’s session. “He’s making strides and he seems to be in good shape.”
With a two-day gap between Games 1 and 2, the Bucks returned to Milwaukee for practice ahead of their trip back to Indianapolis for the upcoming game.
Lillard’s last appearance on the court was on March 18. A week later, the team revealed that he was coping with deep vein thrombosis, which involves a blood clot obstructing flow within veins leading back to the heart.
While on blood-thinning medication, Lillard was limited in his basketball activities to mainly shooting free throws, although he mentioned that specialists eventually allowed him to engage in some strength training. Due to the absence of basketball workouts over the past month, Lillard anticipated needing time to get back into playoff form, even after receiving medical clearance.
“I was able to stay active and do some things, then I was cleared to get on the court for more intensive workouts and conditioning,” Lillard shared on Friday. “I’ll take it day by day. As soon as I feel right, I won’t hesitate; I’ll be ready to go.”
“It’s all falling into place, perfectly timed.”
Giannis’ playoff enthusiasm has Lillard particularly pumped up. pic.twitter.com/o33CU13Lyg
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 18, 2025
During the regular season, the Bucks held a 3-1 advantage over the Pacers, with Lillard participating in all those games. He averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, shooting 35.5% from the field and 38.9% on three-pointers.
In 58 regular-season games, Lillard ranked 10th in the league for both scoring (24.9 points per game) and assists (7.1), also earning his ninth selection to the All-Star Game.
Although he did not play on Saturday, Lillard was present on the bench and received a technical foul late in the game after a verbal exchange with Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton during a timeout.
Haliburton, a two-time All-Star, anticipates facing Lillard on the court at some point over the course of this series.
“It could happen at any moment; I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s tomorrow,” Haliburton remarked. “We have to stay prepared, as playoffs are about winning, not individual accolades.”
