Milwaukee’s worst fears were realized Monday when an MRI revealed that star guard Damian Lillard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon, ESPN reported.
Lillard was injured in the first quarter of Sunday’s 129-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The non-contact injury occurred when Lillard was trying to secure an offensive rebound.
He fell to the floor while tapping the ball forward shortly before the midway point of the first quarter. He immediately grabbed for his lower left leg and was unable to get up. Bucks teammate Brook Lopez committed a foul with 5:57 left in the quarter to stop play and trainers then attended to Lillard. He eventually was helped off the court while keeping his left foot from touching the floor.
Lillard wore a boot and used crutches when he was seen leaving the arena.
Lillard, 34, had just returned from having a blood clot in his right leg. He missed the final 14 games of the regular season and the first contest of this playoff series against the Pacers.
“This is a tough one,” Bucks coach Rivers said Sunday night. “Blood clot followed by this. It’s just tough. … He’s such a great freaking dude. No one deserves this. That’s why I feel bad. I’ve seen injuries that are deflating. This one hurt.”
Lillard averaged 10.5 points and shot just 24 percent (6 of 25) from the field in his first two appearances of this series. The Bucks trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and face elimination in Game 5 on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
A nine-time All-Star, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 58 regular-season games this season, his second in Milwaukee.
Lillard is under contract through the 2025-26 season and has a player option for 2026-27.
