In a stunning turn of events during the NBA playoffs, Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard exited Sunday night’s crucial game against the Indiana Pacers with a lower leg injury in the first quarter and did not return to the court. The Bucks struggled without their key player, leading to a significant 129-103 loss, which allowed the Pacers to seize a 3-1 lead in their first-round series.
After the game, Lillard was seen leaving Fiserv Forum with crutches and his left leg immobilized in a boot, raising immediate concerns about the severity of his injury. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers provided insights into the situation, stating, “They’re going to do an image tomorrow. Obviously it’s lower leg, and just being honest, it’s not very promising.” The implications of Lillard’s injury could have a lasting effect on the Bucks' playoff ambitions.
The incident occurred with 6:11 left in the first quarter when Gary Trent Jr. missed a three-pointer from the right wing. Lillard made a valiant effort to chase down the long rebound, but as he raced toward the ball, his legs gave way, causing him to fall to the floor. Despite his injury, Lillard managed to tap the ball to Trent for an offensive rebound before collapsing. He was seen reaching for his left foot, indicating the severity of his condition.
As the game paused for a stoppage in play, both Kyle Kuzma and Rivers rushed to Lillard's side to assist him. Lillard, unable to put weight on his left foot, hopped off the court on his right foot, directly to the locker room. Rivers expressed his concern, saying, “I knew it right away. I felt bad for him, you know, the guy tried to come back for his team.”
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo echoed Rivers' sentiments, stating that he initially didn't realize the seriousness of the injury until he saw Lillard struggling to walk. “Especially for a guy like Dame, that is a competitor,” Antetokounmpo remarked. “When you see a guy like that not able to walk on his own, you know this might be serious.” The emotional toll of the injury was palpable among teammates as they rallied around Lillard.
At 34 years old, Lillard's recent history includes missing significant time late in the season due to deep-vein thrombosis in his right calf, which had initially sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He returned to action in Game 2 of the playoffs and, in his two playoff appearances, averaged 10.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. However, his shooting performance has been less than stellar, with splits of .240/.188/.857.
“This is a tough one, honestly,” Rivers said, reflecting on the emotional impact of Lillard's injury. “Blood clot, followed by this, it’s just tough. He’s just such a great freaking dude — on the basketball level, more importantly as a teammate and a father.” Rivers highlighted the difficulty the team faced at halftime when they all went to the trainers' room to support Lillard while also preparing for the second half.
In Lillard's absence, backup point guard Kevin Porter Jr. stepped up, delivering his best performance of the series with 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists. However, he admitted the emotional weight of seeing Lillard, whom he idolized growing up, go down with what appeared to be a serious injury was disheartening. “Dame is one of those special ones,” Porter remarked.
Antetokounmpo emphasized the importance of supporting Lillard through this challenging time. “A lot of people don’t see what Dame had to deal with, but I’ve been around him every single day and it’s hard,” he said. “He’s one of the toughest, mentally toughest guys I’ve ever been around, and I think he’s going to overcome every obstacle that’s going to be in front of him.” The Bucks are determined to rally together in support of their teammate as they navigate the uncertain waters of the playoffs.
The future of the Bucks and their playoff run now hangs in the balance, as they await further updates on Lillard’s condition and the potential impact on their strategy moving forward.
