In a shocking turn of events, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard has torn his left Achilles tendon during the first quarter of Sunday’s Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers. This injury, confirmed by a league source on Monday, has brought an abrupt end to his season and raises serious questions about his status for the upcoming NBA season.
During the game, Lillard crumpled to the floor while attempting to chase down an offensive rebound. Although he secured an extra possession for the Bucks, the effort resulted in a catastrophic injury. Following the incident, imaging confirmed the worst fears of both Lillard and the organization, marking a difficult moment in what was already a challenging season for the nine-time All-Star.
Before this incident, Lillard had already missed the final 14 games of the regular season due to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) blood clot in his right leg. Initially, it was expected that he would miss the entire postseason. However, he made a return to the court in Game 2 against the Pacers, hoping to regain his rhythm after a month away from full-contact basketball.
The road to recovery for Lillard will be arduous. An Achilles tear typically entails a recovery timeline of 8 to 12 months, indicating that he may miss a significant portion of the upcoming season. This is particularly concerning for the Bucks, as they now have to strategize for the remainder of the playoffs without their star player.
As the Bucks prepare for Game 5 on Tuesday, they find themselves trailing 3-1 in their first-round playoff series against the Pacers. The absence of Lillard will undoubtedly be felt, and the team will need to rally together to stave off elimination. Fans and analysts alike are keenly watching how this development will affect the team’s performance and playoff aspirations.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images
