Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury prompted an MRI scan to assess its extent, raising concerns over his availability for Game 4 of the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, as revealed by coach Doc Rivers on Saturday.
Sporting a walking boot on his right foot, Lillard made a subdued entrance through an Indianapolis hotel, declining to field questions from reporters.
Milwaukee’s regular-season record of 1-8 in games without Lillard starting underscores his significance to the team.
During the Bucks’ Friday night clash with the Pacers, Lillard exhibited signs of discomfort, notably limping at times following an incident where Pacers forward Pascal Siakam inadvertently stepped on his foot in the first quarter. Despite the setback, Lillard managed to return in the second quarter, tallying 28 points and eight assists but struggled with his shooting accuracy.
Post-game, Lillard disclosed an additional Achilles tendon injury sustained late in regulation, impacting his performance down the stretch as the Bucks fell behind 2-1 in the series.
With Lillard sidelined, the Bucks face the prospect of missing their top two players for Game 4, as two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo remains doubtful due to a left calf strain sustained earlier in April.
However, there was a glimmer of hope for the Bucks as Khris Middleton, who delivered a stellar performance with 42 points in Game 3, appeared to be recovering well from a sprained right ankle that sidelined him from practice earlier in the week.
Injuries during the postseason are a familiar challenge for the Bucks, with Antetokounmpo’s absence in pivotal moments during previous playoff runs and Middleton’s past injury woes.
As Game 4 approaches, the Bucks find themselves confronted with a recurring predicament of navigating through playoff adversity.
“We have 24 hours to work on that and figure it out,” Rivers said. “In the past, without him (Lillard), we’ve had Giannis at the point. If he doesn’t play, you have to just figure out something. We have guys. There are certain ways in the motion offense we can play, we’ve worked a little bit on that, so we’ll be ready.”
