The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing without superstar point guard Damian Lillard for several games now. He missed his fourth straight contest on Thursday during a home game at Fiserv Forum against the visiting Brooklyn Nets, with the future Basketball Hall of Famer out with an illness.
Apart from the illness, Lillard has reportedly been dealing with a lower-body issue. Before the Nets game, though, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers provided an encouraging news on Lillard’s calf.
Via Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
Is Damian Lillard going to play tonight?
Doc Rivers: “I don’t think so.”
Is his right calf strain progressing at least?
Doc Rivers: “The (right) calf is good.”
Lillard most recently saw action in the finals of the 2024 NBA Cup in Las Vegas against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lillard had 23 points, four rebound and four assists in that contest while shooting 6-for-12 from the floor to help Milwaukee get past the Thunder, 97-81.
Lillard’s next chance to return to action will be on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls in Windy City.
Damian Lillard-less Milwaukee Bucks fall prey to the Brooklyn Nets
Without Lillard and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks found it hard to stave off the Nets, who came away with a 111-105 win in Milwaukee. Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 21 points while Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez chipped in 18 and 20 points, respectively.
Milwaukee struggled with ball security, committing 23 turnovers. The Bucks built a lead of as many as 13 points against the Nets but did not have enough firepower to keep up with the Nets’ offensive surge, especially in the fourth quarter, when Brooklyn outscored Milwaukee by 12 points.
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