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Damian Lillard, a guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, exited Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, being assisted off the court and into the locker room during the first quarter.
According to various reports, an initial assessment suggested a potential Achilles tendon injury for Lillard. Further diagnostic tests are scheduled for Monday.
“They’re going to conduct imaging tomorrow,” remarked Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers following the Bucks’ 129-103 defeat. “Clearly, it involves the lower leg. To be frank, the outlook doesn’t appear very encouraging.”
Damian Lillard (left lower leg injury) will not return to tonight’s game.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 28, 2025
The injury was sustained without contact midway through the first quarter. The Bucks later confirmed that the seven-time All-NBA guard had injured his lower left leg and would not return to the game.
This incident follows Lillard’s impressive comeback from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, which had sidelined him for the last 14 games of the regular season and the series opener.
During the first quarter, Lillard was positioned behind the three-point arc at the top of the key when a loose ball came his way. After using his left hand to redirect the ball toward teammate Gary Trent Jr., he suddenly fell and clutched his lower left leg near the ankle, remaining on the floor as play continued.
Once a foul halted the game, Kyle Kuzma of the Bucks assisted Lillard, who limped off the court with help into the locker room.
Lillard’s earlier injury was to his other leg, requiring him to take blood-thinning medication to address his deep vein thrombosis, a condition marked by abnormal clotting that hampers blood flow back to the heart.
He was taken off the medication and cleared to resume full basketball activities just before the end of the regular season, making his return for Game 2 of this series on Tuesday.
Since clinching the championship in 2021, the Bucks have faced various injury challenges in the playoffs.
Khris Middleton missed the entire seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston in 2022 due to a sprained medial collateral ligament. In 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a lower back bruise in Milwaukee’s first playoff game and only returned in Game 4 of a first-round series, which they lost 4-1 to the Miami Heat.
In last year’s 4-2 first-round loss to Indiana, Antetokounmpo was sidelined entirely due to a calf strain, while Lillard missed two games because of an Achilles injury.
As they approach Tuesday’s Game 4 down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Bucks face a tough road ahead without Lillard, as they confront a 3-1 deficit.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
