On one hand, it’s a depressing topic, as star Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard entered game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That was no more apparent than on that Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Currently trailing 2-1 in the series, Lillard’s injury raises concerns for the team’s performance as they aim to advance further in the postseason.
The injury happened early in the first quarter when Lillard tried to go make a play and grab an offensive rebound. To his credit, he did time that well to knock the ball away from the Pacers player. Then, he touched down and immediately reached for his left knee. His injury sidelined him in the paint on the very next defensive trip. In doing so, it became a clear demonstration of just how bad things had gotten.
Lillard’s woes carried over, as he had missed both of his shot attempts in Game 4 before leaving. This most recent rollback is particularly concerning. He had only recently returned to action after missing the last 14 games of the regular season due to deep vein thrombosis in his right leg. The Bucks just described Lillard’s recovery from this condition as “unprecedented,” which would make Lillard’s current injury that much scarier.
An MRI is set on Monday to determine the severity of Lillard’s injury. As before, the team hopes to have a better idea of his status after this test. Here’s NBA reporter Jamal Collier from ESPN with his perspective on what went down. He specifically warned about how this injury would make or break Lillard and the Bucks’ odds in the playoffs.
Lillard showed exactly why the Bucks have needed his contributions in full this season. His absence would severely limit their chances of pulling the upset against the Pacers. For Lillard, he’s down in the series and with a lot of injuries all around. The joint team will have to recalibrate their approach to make progress in a meaningful way.
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