Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is preparing to return for Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers. He has been out of action since March 18 following a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. The nine-time NBA All-Star is widely considered one of the best scorers in league history and a phenomenal playmaker. He averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists this season in 58 games.
It certainly was the case in Game 1, as Lillard didn’t help offset a poor performance in the Bucks’ 117-98 loss to the Pacers. His influence on the court changes everything with this team’s offensive flow and direction, and Cavs fans can’t wait to see him back again. The Bucks, in fact, have tagged Lillard as questionable for Game 2, due to reconditioning after coming back from his recovery.
Things got a little more complicated once Lillard was unfortunately diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf on March 25. Before receiving this diagnosis, he had just begun taking blood-thinning medication to treat the condition. Deep vein thrombosis develops when blood coagulates inside a blood vessel, blocking adequate circulation back to the heart. This diagnosis immediately threw Lillard’s health and status with the Blazers for the playoffs into question.
After overcoming a serious bout with deep vein thrombosis, Lillard received the “all-clear.” He leapt right back into regular training and participated in his first full practice last Thursday. He has no longer been on blood-thinning medication since, a significant step in his recovery process showing that things are on an upward trajectory.
Lillard proved his postseason pedigree last season, dropping 31.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game on the Nuggets in the first round. His performance would prove instrumental in helping the Bucks navigate their way through an unforgettable postseason run. Now, understandably so, the team is hoping that his experience and skill set will allow them to regroup in this series against Indiana.
They’ll monitor Lillard’s health and ensure he is set to make a real impact when he comes back. His leadership and scoring prowess might be most critical here, as the team looks to tie the series up going into a long weekend of rest.
Leave a Reply