Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who hasn’t played since March 18 due to a blood clot, has been upgraded to questionable for Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the host Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
The Bucks announced Lillard’s status on Monday’s injury report as questionable due to return to competition reconditioning. The fourth-seeded Pacers won the Eastern Conference series opener against the fifth-seeded Bucks 117-98 on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Lillard, 34, was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf last month and was taking blood-thinning medication, forcing him to sit out of action. With his condition improved, the Bucks said last Thursday that he had been cleared to resume basketball activity. He was a full participant at Monday’s practice, according to The Athletic, after missing the final 14 games of the regular season.
The nine-time All-Star averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 58 games during the regular season. Over 900 career games with the Portland Trail Blazers (2012-23) and Bucks, he has averages of 25.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds.
Bucks forward Tyler Smith has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game because of a sprained left ankle.
