Things for the Milwaukee Bucks have gone from negative to even worse. In accordance to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and The Stadium, Bucks superstar guard Damian Lillard is listed as ‘doubtful’ for Activity 4. He suffered a strained Achilles and is in a going for walks boot pursuing the team’s Match 3 decline.
Charania tweeted out the news early Saturday.
Lillard said he appeared to worsen his Achilles injury at the conclude of regulation. Look at as Lillard limps as he’s on his way to decide up teammate Patrick Beverley from the flooring.
Soon after the game, Damian Lillard clarified that his Achilles aggravation occurred on this enjoy at the conclude of regulation and not on the foul by Pascal Siakam in the very first quarter.
(You can see Lillard wince as he goes to decide up Patrick Beverley.) pic.twitter.com/M4nnU43Nqa
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 27, 2024
It wasn’t pretty noticeable in actual-time, but observing it on this movie, it is evident Lillard was laboring. Even though that was the situation, Lillard remained in the sport the relaxation of the way as he noticed his group drop Recreation 3 in time beyond regulation and fall to a 2-1 deficit against the Pacers.
Cole Burston/Getty Pictures
Immediately after the game, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers failed to mince any text on Lillard’s struggles owing to the injuries.
“Truthfully, Dame was actually battling,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “In the overtime, he virtually mentioned, ‘I’ll be the decoy. I just can not go as much as explosion.’ So I imagined Dame just becoming out there was massive for us.”
Lillard, on the other hand, remained optimistic soon after the Match 3. Even so, with the going for walks boot on, his chance of taking part in looks dim.
“I believe tonight, it was just so fresh new, just re-aggravated right after obtaining a total 7 days where by you could type of get it collectively,” Lillard explained. “But I just required to be on the flooring in situation some prospect arrived up, or nevertheless I could assistance. But certainly, tonight, we’re gonna get again and just have to get ahead of it mainly because which is not a little something you want to enjoy with.
“It’s 1 of these spots on your overall body wherever you literally are unable to do nothing about it. If you cannot move, you cannot move. So we bought a few times, tonight, to commence to try to get ahead of it and just get it experience improved, test to get ready for Sunday.”
It wasn’t the ideal night time for the 8-time All-Star. In the first quarter of the recreation, Lillard had a further scare when he drove to the basket against Pacers ahead Pascal Siakam and landed on his ankle. Lillard appeared to twist his knee and lay on the ground in agony ahead of hobbling to the bench and down the tunnel.
The Bucks are currently down their two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo owing to a left calf strain. Antetokounmpo has nevertheless to match up in these playoffs and very likely will not likely right until the next round if the Bucks make it earlier the Pacers.
Lillard was traded to the Bucks a thirty day period right before the 2023-2024 season begun. In his initially period in Milwaukee, Lillard averaged 24.3 points per recreation, 4.4 rebounds, and 7. assists per recreation on 42.4% shooting from the field. Lillard’s year could be over, indicating the Bucks season could be around shortly devoid of their superstar duo.
Video game 4 is on Sunday at 4 p.m. PT/ 7 p.m. ET.
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