Damian Lillard will miss the start of the playoffs due to a blood clot
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard will not be available for the start of the NBA playoffs due to a blood clot in his right calf, according to sources.
The Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers in the first game of the first-round series on Saturday.
The medical staff evaluating Lillard, who has been out of the courts since March 18, believe that the veteran point guard is showing significant improvement, with the clot decreasing in size. However, he has not yet been cleared to resume full basketball activity.
The team announced on Tuesday that Lillard has shown “significant improvement in his deep vein thrombosis” and that the nine-time All-Star will increase his activity on the court. The team did not provide a clear timeline for Lillard’s return.
Damian’s most recent weekly scan shows his injury has improved significantly, allowing him to safely advance with increased basketball activity. Damian’s health remains our number one priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news regarding Damian’s progress.
Jon Horst, Bucks General Manager
Last month, the Bucks reported that Lillard, 34, would be out indefinitely. At the time, the team indicated that Lillard was using blood thinners to stabilize the clot. Horst added that the Bucks would “support him as he goes through this weekly process of strict criteria to ensure it is safe for him to return to play.”
Coach Doc Rivers expressed optimism earlier this month about Lillard’s possible return, but also acknowledged that the team was prepared for the possibility of the nine-time All-Star missing the rest of the season.
There’s no guarantee we’ll get it. If we get it back, we know how to play. But we don’t know how to play long-term without it… So we have work to do.
Doc Rivers, Bucks Coach
Before being sidelined, Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists. The Bucks went 10-4 in the last 14 games of the regular season and finished on an eight-game winning streak.
Rivers indicated on Tuesday that he is “pretty confident” that backup center Jericho Sims will be available for the postseason after missing the last month due to a right thumb ligament injury. Sims averaged 2.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 15 minutes in 14 games after the Bucks acquired him from the New York Knicks at the trade deadline.
