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Damian Lillard injury update: 'Brutal' news emerges on Bucks star after being ruled out vs. Pacers

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•04/27/25•

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Damian Lillard
Michael McLoone | Imagn Images

Damian Lillard was supposed to have a season-ending health issue with his diagnosis back in March. After recovering and returning from that, though, his season might actually be done this time with his injury tonight in Game 4.

Lillard has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers after being helped off the floor with a left lower leg injury he suffered trying to step after a loose ball. Reporting now suggests it could be a significant injury with fear of an Achilles tear in the left leg for Lillard.

“Sources: The fear is Bucks star Damian Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear,” Chris Haynes tweeted. “Brutal circumstance after working himself back from a blood clot diagnosis that kept him out over a month.”

Lillard had just returned from another concerning matter as he was dealing with deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot, in his right leg, which typically ends a player’s season due to the blood-thinning medication. It sidelined him for 14 games from there to end the regular season and in Game 1 against Indiana in the NBA Playoffs. However, in a remarkable recovery, Lillard was back in the lineup just over a month later for Game 2.

That said, Lillard hadn’t yet looked like himself in this series. He’d posted 10.5 points (24% FG, 18.8% 3PT), 6.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds with a steal and a block per game over Game 2, a win for the Pacers, and Game 3, a win for the Bucks to bring the series to 2-1. He then hadn’t scored after missing both his shot attempts before leaving Game 4. That’s far from his averages of 24.9 points (44.8% FG, 37.6% 3PT), 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game this season in his 13th year in the NBA and second with Milwaukee.

The initial thought was whether Lillard could return tonight or during this series if it extends. The worry now is, if it is diagnosed as an Achilles tear, not if he can even return in these playoffs but when he could be available for next season for Milwaukee.

More on Lillard after being carried off court following non-contact fall

Damian Lillard had just come back into the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks after what could’ve been a season-ending injury. Now, he’s down again early on in Game 4.

Around the midway point of the first quarter of Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers in round one of the NBA Playoffs, Lillard went down at the top of the key after trying to get after a loose ball coming for an offensive rebound. He remained sitting on the court as play continued and reached the other side of the floor as he’d need assistance to get up and into the locker room. Now, Milwaukee has since shared that he will be unavailable for the remainder of the game.

“Bad news. Damian Lillard will not return to action due to a left lower leg injury,” reported TNT’s Stephanie Ready.

“That’s the thing – a non-contact injury trying to plant right there to go get that offensive rebound,” Grant Hill assessed on the broadcast. “You see him, even in the back, laboring to walk there.”