Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) grabs his leg after being injured in the course of the first half in Recreation 2 towards the Indiana Pacers in an NBA basketball first-round playoff collection, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)
INDIANAPOLIS — Damian Lillard underwent an MRI to find out the severity of his Achilles tendon damage, and the Milwaukee Bucks may very well be with out the star guard for Recreation 4 of their NBA playoff collection towards the Indiana Pacers, coach Doc Rivers mentioned Saturday.
Lillard greeted reporters as he strolled by an Indianapolis lodge carrying a strolling boot on his proper foot, however he didn’t take questions. Formally, Lillard and two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo are each listed as uncertain for Sunday.
“We don’t know but. Not wanting nice however we don’t know but,” Rivers mentioned when requested about Lillard’s standing for Sunday. “They’re going to offer us the check outcomes quickly, so we should always know a little bit later at this time.”
Milwaukee was 1-8 when Lillard didn’t begin a sport within the common season.
READ: Haliburton, Pacers beat Bucks in OT to take 2-1 lead
Lillard was clearly limping at occasions in the course of the Bucks’ 121-118 additional time loss at Indiana on Friday night time. The eight-time All-Star twisted his left knee when Pacers ahead Pascal Siakam stepped on his foot within the first quarter. He stayed on the bottom briefly earlier than going to the locker room.
The 33-year-old Lillard returned within the second quarter and completed with 28 factors and eight assists whereas going 6 of 20 from the sphere.
After the sport, Lillard mentioned he additionally harm an Achilles tendon late in regulation. He scored two factors, each on free throws and none in additional time, over the ultimate 10 minutes Friday as Milwaukee fell right into a 2-1 deficit within the best-of-seven collection.
Lillard’s damage means Milwaukee may very well be with out its high two gamers for Recreation 4.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t performed since straining his left calf April 9. Rivers mentioned Antetokounmpo may very well be cleared for Recreation 4, although he believes it’s unlikely.
“Immediately is his day without work so he’s going to go laborious early (Sunday) after which we’re going to decide after that,” Rivers mentioned earlier than being requested immediately whether or not Antetokounmpo may play. “I doubt it, however we’ll see.”
The Bucks did get some promising information Saturday.
Rivers mentioned Khris Middleton — who completed with a playoff-career excessive 42 factors in Recreation 3 — seemed to be feeling nicely after enjoying 41 minutes on the sprained proper ankle that stored him out of Thursday’s follow.
“He felt nice,” Rivers mentioned. “Clearly, you’ve bought to fall asleep and get up within the morning and I’m wanting round and don’t see a variety of previous guys — a few us — you understand how after we get up our physique feels, so we’ve got to attend for Khris to get up within the morning. The excellent news is there wasn’t a variety of swelling, and he mentioned he felt higher as the sport went on.”
Coping with postseason accidents is nothing new for the Bucks.
READ: NBA: Damian Lillard has uncommon night time in Bucks’ Recreation 1 win
A sprained ankle stored Antetokounmpo out of the ultimate 1½ video games of a 2020 second-round loss to Miami. He additionally missed the ultimate two video games of the 2021 Japanese Convention finals with a hyperextended knee. Antetokounmpo returned towards Phoenix and was voted the NBA Finals MVP after scoring 50 factors in a title-clinching Recreation 6 victory.
Middleton missed the Bucks’ final 10 playoff video games in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament, and Antetokounmpo left Recreation 1 of final yr’s first-round loss to Miami with a bruised decrease again that additionally stored him out of Video games 2 and three.
The Bucks are dealing with the same situation Sunday.
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“Now we have 24 hours to work on that and determine it out,” Rivers mentioned. “Prior to now, with out him (Lillard), we’ve had Giannis on the level. If he doesn’t play, you need to simply determine one thing. Now we have guys. There are specific methods within the movement offense we will play, we’ve labored a little bit bit on that, so we’ll be prepared.”
