Damian Lillard to Return for Bucks in Game 2 Against Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard has confirmed that he will play in Game 2 of the team’s first-round series against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Lillard’s return comes after a lengthy absence due to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) blood clot in his right calf, which he was diagnosed with in late March.
According to The Athletic, Lillard sat out the final 14 games of the regular season but was cleared of the blood clot on April 17. He was allowed to return to practice on April 19, but missed Game 1 of the series against the Pacers.
Lillard’s return will be a significant boost to the Bucks, who were without their star point guard in Game 1. In his absence, the team relied heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting. However, the team’s other starters struggled offensively, with Kyle Kuzma and Taurean Prince going scoreless in 20-plus minutes on the floor.
"I’ve never not played for over a month and then played again," Lillard said, as reported by The Athletic. "It was always like the end of the season, and I just didn’t play again. So, not knowing if I was able to come back this season, I was only able to lift, which was good because I was able to keep my body strong. But it was weeks and weeks and weeks before they even allowed me to jump and do stuff on the court."
Lillard’s preparation for his return involved significant cardio work off the court and a slow progression of on-court work with the team. He told reporters that he doesn’t have any restrictions on his return, but will be wearing a sleeve on his right leg and keeping in constant communication with head coach Doc Rivers about how he feels.
"Honestly, it’s really just how I feel," Lillard said, as quoted by The Athletic. "I’m going to be communicating to Doc how I’m feeling. It’s no real way to simulate being in an NBA game, let alone a playoff game, so I’m really just going in with intentions to be out there with the team and I’m going to give everything that I got. I’ll just build from there."
The Bucks will look to tie the series in Indianapolis on Tuesday night with Lillard back on the court. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle commented on Lillard’s possible return earlier on Tuesday, saying that the team is familiar with his greatness and the challenges he poses.
"We have experience playing against him … both during the season and last year in the playoffs," Carlisle told 107.5 The Fan, via The Athletic. "We’re familiar with his greatness and all the things that he does to make a game very difficult for the opponent. … It sounds like he’s gonna be playing at some point, and it certainly could be tonight, and we can’t be surprised if he does."
Lillard’s return will also see him share the floor with Antetokounmpo for the first time in a playoff game. The two players will look to combine to lead the Bucks to a crucial win in Game 2.
As reported by The Athletic, Lillard believes that the Bucks will play similarly offensively in Game 2, with him potentially playing off the ball to start. "I mean, I’m not going to be like, ‘All right, we’re going to change everything,’" Lillard said. "Obviously, me being on this team, I bring something different to this team. I think on one side, you don’t want to take that away from the team, but also, like you said, I’ve missed some time."
The Bucks will look to bounce back from a disheartening Game 1 effort, and Lillard’s return could be the catalyst for a change in fortunes. With Lillard back on the court, the team will look to take control of the series and head back to Milwaukee with momentum.
