The Milwaukee Bucks can’t evade injury if their championship aspirations depended on it.
Bucks at the Mercy of Mounting Injuries
In Game 3, Bucks guard Damian Lillard re-injured his Achilles injury at the end of regulation. He seemingly sustained the injury while defending Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard. After the game, Lillard noted that had been experiencing Achilles soreness since Milwaukee’s regular season finale against the Orlando Magic (h/t The Athletic’s Eric Nehm). Interestingly, Lillard scored 16 points but went 2-14 from the field against the Magic that day.
Game 3 was better for Lillard, but not too much better. He finished the game with 28 points, knocking down four 3s and getting to the free-throw line 12 times. Yet, he shot just 30.0 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. In overtime, he didn’t take a single field goal attempt.
Addressing the injury, Lillard says, “when I went out there, I knew it was gonna be a little uncomfortable but I didn’t feel like I was putting myself in danger,” (per ESPN’s Jamal Collier).
“I just wanted to be on the floor in case opportunity came up or however I could help,” he continues.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers also spoke about Lillard’s injury, saying “honestly, Dame was really struggling.”
“In the overtime, he literally said, ‘I’ll be the decoy. I just can’t go as far as explosion.’ So I thought Dame just being out there was huge for us.”
Lillard was inefficient largely due to Nembhard’s consistent contests. However, entering Game 3 averaging 34.5 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting from the field and 50.0 percent from 3, he was having his way with Indiana’s defense beforehand. As the Bucks’ leading scorer in the playoffs with 32.3 points per game, Milwaukee will need every bit of what he can give them to defeat the Pacers.
Especially while two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is out.
“We’re gonna get back and just have to get ahead of it because that’s not something that you want to play with,” Lillard says of his recovery plan.
“It’s one of those spots on your body where you literally can’t, you can’t do nothing about it. If you can’t move you can’t move. We have a couple of days to start and try to get ahead of it. Get it feeling better and get ready for Sunday.”
There’s serious doubt about Lillard’s availability for Game 4.
Diagnosed with a strained Achilles, the 33-year-old is now in a walking boot, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Playing Through Injury
The Bucks are feeling the pressure of mounting injuries.
Even franchise pillar Khris Middleton sustained an injury, spraining his ankle in Game 2. He still played in Game 3, choosing to tolerate the pain rather than put his team at even more of a disadvantage. That said, Middleton is averaging 26.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in the First Round. A playoff overachiever, Middleton’s ability to excel under pressure is needed even with Lillard in the fold.
With regard to Antetokounmpo, Rivers says the Bucks are “not going to rush anybody back. It’s too dangerous to do that.”
Averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 2023-24, Antetokounmpo had his eighth consecutive All-Star season. Long, athletic, and deceptively skilled, he’s the Bucks’ most dynamic weapon. That said, Antetokounmpo could be out for the rest remainder of the First Round.
However, it’ll be interesting to see what Milwaukee decides if their backs are against the wall.
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