The Milwaukee Bucks are hoping that they will be able to even their first round series against the Indiana Pacers after a frustrating 117-98 loss in Game One. While Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points and 12 rebounds, his supporting cast was just 2-12 on shots created by him through his passing. As a team, Milwaukee was only 9-37 from three (24.3%) and allowed their offensive struggles to affect their defense.
Of course, the Bucks were without nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, who has been out for the past four weeks with deep vein thrombosis in his calf. When his blood clot was initially discovered by team doctors, Lillard was shut down indefinitely. Indeed, as much as Milwaukee wanted him healthy for the Playoffs, their main concern was that he would be able to, well, live.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard’s Cousin Died of a Blood Clot in His Leg
When Lillard was first diagnosed with his blood clot, he said that he did not even think about when he would be able to get back to playing basketball. Instead, he was thinking about his kids, his family.
During a recent interview, the Bucks point guard revealed that, back in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many medical offices were closed for in-person exams, his cousin died of a cardiac event that was the result of him having a blood clot in his calf.
“One of my closest cousins, in 2021, had a blood clot in his calf. Didn’t know. You know, during COVID they couldn’t get him in because everything was on Zoom. And he ended up having a pulmonary embolism and dying. So, obviously that was the first thing that [came to my] mind.
“The toughest part throughout this entire process was that first couple of days when I really started to feel it. It was not obvious that it was a blood clot, but once I found out that’s what it was, well then I knew what it was and why it was so sore and swollen.
“But I’d say, like, after three to five days I felt normal. I felt like I could physically do anything that I could do before. But the fact was that I still had a blood clot in my leg.”
Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard Damian Lillard Is Questionable for Game Two vs the Indiana Pacers
Amazingly, Lillard, his doctors, and the Bucks medical team were able to catch the clot early and start treatment. As the NBA regular season ended, it was revealed that he no longer was taking blood thinners and that the clot, which normally takes up to six months to heal, was gone.
In other words, he would be back.
And while he was held out of Game One for return to competition condition, he is now listed as questionable for Game Two:
Injury Report – April 22 at Indiana
Out:
Tyler Smith (Left Ankle Sprain)Questionable:
Damian Lillard (Return to Competition Reconditioning)— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 21, 2025
If Lillard is, indeed, ready to play on Tuesday in Indiana, it would go a long way in helping the Bucks rebound and even the series as it returns to Milwaukee later in the week.
More Milwaukee Bucks News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- 5 Important Numbers That Have Made Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo an MVP Finalist Again
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Not Banking on Damian Lillard Returning in Game 2
- Bucks Fans Worry About Doc Rivers’ Decision Regarding Starting 5
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