Apr 27, 2024, 2:45 p.m. ET
Damian Lillard’s presence in the Bucks’ fourth game against the Pacers is in doubt due to a tendon strain.
INDIANAPOLIS – The star of the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard, suffered a strain in his right Achilles tendonsources confirmed to ESPN, putting his availability for Game 4 in jeopardy of the team’s first round series against the Indiana Pacers.
Damian Lillard suffered a tendon injury during Game 4 of the Bucks-Pacers series on Friday. Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Lillard was wearing a walking boot after the team’s video session this Saturday afternoon after aggravate the injury near the end of the fourth quarter in Game 3 Friday night. Lillard was clutching his leg after a foul on Aaron Nesmith with 6.2 seconds left in regulation time. He remained on the court as Game 3 went into overtime, but did not score and did not attempt any shots.
Lillard’s Achilles tendon has been bothering him for a few weeks. He revealed that he felt some discomfort after Milwaukee’s regular-season finale in Orlando and then sat out the first few days of practice before the start of the playoffs to recover, a break that Lillard said helped him feel fresh entering the series.
After shaking up the injury near the end of the fourth quarter, his coach Doc Rivers highlighted that Lillard served mainly as a decoy during extra time.
The Athletic was the first to report the extent of Lillard’s injury.
The Bucks trail the Pacers 2-1 in the series. Game four is Sunday night. The Bucks now face the possibility of trying to overcome the series deficit without Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpowho has not played in this series due to a calf strain.
Antetokounmpo took a scheduled day off this Saturday, but Rivers said Antetokounmpo hopes to be back on the court Sunday morning before Game 4.
“He will be training (on Sunday), will try hard early and then we will make a decision“said Rivers this Saturday afternoon.
Could Antetokounmpo train in the morning and feel good enough to play in Game 4?
“I doubt it. But we’ll see,” Rivers concluded.
2024-04-27 18:45:00
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