MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts from the court … More
Getty ImagesThings have gone from bad to worse for Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard.
Lillard is feared to have a left Achilles’ tear after falling awkwardly during the first quarter of Milwaukee’s 129-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of their series Sunday night.
Lillard reached for his left ankle right away, could not put any weight on the leg and then had to be helped off the court.
“It’s not very promising,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “. … I feel bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team.”
He added: “This is a tough one, honestly. Blood clot, followed by [Achilles]
. … He’s just a great freakin’ dude, as a teammate and a father. No one deserves it.”
The nine-time All-Star returned for Game 2 of the series after missing 15 games with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He had not played since March 18.
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.
He also missed three games in February due to a hamstring injury, three in December with a calf strain and three in November with a concussion.
“Tragic,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Lillard’s latest injury. “I have such great respect for him competing all those years nit he West and then the last couple years [in the East]
so it’s just very solemn news. So thoughts and prayers.”
Kevin Durant did not play for 552 days after his Achilles tear in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
Lillard was averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
The Pacers lead the series 3-1.
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