The last thing the Milwaukee Bucks need right now is an injury to superstar point guard Damian Lillard. Giannis Antetokounmpo is in a race to get ready for their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers after suffering a strained calf, but at this point, there’s no guarantee that the former back-to-back MVP will be available for Game 1 on Sunday.
Losing Lillard at this point in the season would be nothing short of catastrophic for Milwaukee, which is why they’re taking all the necessary precautions for the 33-year-old veteran.
Milwaukee Bucks News: Damian Lillard’s Injury Scare Vs. Magic
There was a bit of a scary moment on the Lillard front during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Orlando Magic. Around the mid-way point of the second quarter, head coach Doc Rivers wanted to pull Dame out of the game after not liking how Lillard was moving after taking contact in the backcourt.
Lillard refused to leave the game, though, and the seven-time All-NBA guard has now explained the circumstances that led to his decision to remain on the court:
“Had a few little irritation-type moments in that second quarter and Doc was like, I’m going to get you you out,” Lillard acknowledged, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He tried to get me out in the second quarter and I was just like, we already here now, let’s just play.”
Apparently, Rivers was worried that Lillard may have re-aggravated his sore left adductor muscle, which forced him to sit out on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As it turns out, though, Dame was fine.
Lillard was actually listed on the injury report heading into Sunday’s game. He played through his adductor problem, though, which according to Dame, was a decision that he made with the postseason in mind:
“I felt good about at least being on the floor going into the playoffs,” Lillard said. “I didn’t want to just not have no type of game action going into the postseason. Being able to get out there, guys denying me full court, trying to pick me up full court, stuff like that, that was just good for me to just kind of get that bump.”
Looking Ahead
The Bucks are now set to face an extremely tough test in the first round against the Pacers, who have defeated them four out of five times this season. Lillard admitted that he is isn’t going to be a hundred percent entering the postseason, but he remains confident in his ability to lead his squad:
“I won’t be perfect,” he said. “But I don’t think nobody is. But the week, just being able to get everything together, getting the rest and getting our minds right, it will be good for us.”
Lillard and Co. have a few days to rest and recover before they go to war against Indiana stating on Sunday. What a series that’s going to be.
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