The Milwaukee Bucks‘ demoralizing defeat to go down 3-1 of their first-round sequence towards the Indiana Pacers has been compounded by the potential lack of guard Damian Lillard.
Lillard, age 34, had simply returned from a two week absence attributable to deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his proper leg.
However now it seems that he may very well be finished for the remainder of the playoffs as a number of studies consider Lillard ruptured his Achilles tendon in Recreation 4 on Sunday night time.
It was simply previous halfway within the first quarter when Lillard tried grabbing an offensive rebound. He managed to faucet the ball away from an Indiana participant, however then instantly fell to the bottom and grabbed his left leg.
Lillard was seen sitting down on the following defensive possession earlier than being helped to his ft on the subsequent useless ball. He wanted help to depart the courtroom and was led to the locker room.
Prompt replay footage reviewed by the X account @sportsinjuryMD seems to point out the second the place Lillard’s Achilles gave out.
Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard could have torn his Achilles tendon on Sunday
Lillard took an ungainly step off his left leg – inflicting him to fall on the bottom and grimace
He wanted to be helped off the courtroom and was seen strolling out in a boot and on crutches
On the finish of the night time, the star level guard was seen strolling out of Fiserv Discussion board in a boot and utilizing crutches. Lillard is ready to bear an MRI on Monday to formally verify the harm finished to his leg.
This harm got here precisely one yr to the day that Lillard strained his Achilles in final yr’s Recreation 3 towards the Pacers.
After the sport ended, teammates and coaches praised Lillard’s willpower to get again onto the courtroom after the blood clot and bemoaned shedding him.
‘It is a powerful one, actually. Blood clot, adopted by [Achilles]. … He is only a nice freakin’ dude, as a teammate and a father. Nobody deserves it,’ mentioned Bucks coach Doc Rivers.
‘Clearly, seeing anyone going by way of one thing like that’s powerful,’ mentioned teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. ‘You do not need anyone to get damage and you do not know how severe the harm is.
‘You simply want for the most effective case situation, however once more, it would not matter if he is your teammate, your opponent, you do not need to see anyone get damage as a result of I believe we put a lot effort and time into our jobs and attempt to be wholesome and attempt to assist our workforce.’
In Lillard’s absence, the Bucks fell 129-103 to Indiana and face the brink of elimination with Tuesday night time’s Recreation 5.
Whereas Antetokounmpo led the best way with 28 factors and Kevin Porter Jr managed 23 factors off the bench, just one different participant on Milwaukee put up double-digit factors.
With out his co-star, Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) led the Bucks in scoring, however could not win
In the meantime, all 5 of Indiana’s starters – in addition to three bench gamers – hit double-digits as they had been led by 23 factors from Myles Turner.
Lillard is among the finest level guards of his era, however this harm may spell the top to his 13 yr profession.
He has only one extra yr below contract with a participant possibility accessible within the 2026-27 season.
Rumors round Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee stay as properly, with the 30-year-old star set to play on the primary yr of a three-year extension subsequent season.
But when the Bucks aren’t capable of construct round him, now may very well be the time he may demand a commerce.
Antetokounmpo is just below contract by way of 2027 earlier than a participant possibility kicks in for the 2027-28 season.
#Sickening #replay #exhibits #actual #second #NBA #star #Damian #Lillard #snapped #Achilles