Milwaukee’s Doc Rivers states Damian Lillard won’t ‘go out this
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)– Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers has actually learned to take 10-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard at his word.So when Rivers consulted with his hurt 34-year-old star guard Tuesday, he wasn’t surprised to hear Lillard’s response to the torn left Achilles tendon that knocked him out of this year’s first-round playoff series against Indiana.Advertisement “He stated two things, which I love,
“Rivers said. “The first one, he simply said’ I can’t believe I’m here. ‘Then the 2nd one is’ I’m not going out this way. ‘I can guarantee you he will not, and that’s what I implied about his willpower.”Lillard suffered a non-contact injury Sunday night in Video game 4 of the Bucks series against Indiana. He lagged the 3-point line, near the top of the key, midway through the first quarter when the ball bounced toward him. Lillard utilized his left hand to tip the ball toward colleague Gary Trent Jr., then decreased and grabbed the lower part of his left leg.He remained seated as play continued and required help– both to get up and to leave the court. Milwaukee lost the game 129-103, putting the Bucks in a 3-1 deficit and on the verge of a 3rd straight first-round exit. The series resumes Tuesday night in Indianapolis.Lillard’s lack is a big blow, specifically after the seven-time All-NBA selection battled so tough to return just a month after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his best calf– an ailment that normally takes months to recuperate from, not weeks.Advertisement Then in his 3rd game back, Lillard got hurt again. this time with an injury that could keep him out of a considerable part of next season
and potentially end
his coupling with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The tandem has appeared in just 3 championship game over their two seasons as teammates.But Lillard is figured out to come back as rapidly as possible.”It’s amazing,”Rivers said. “He’s already speaking about his return and being much better and being all set. We had a long speak about that today too. “Lillard didn’t appear like his normally explosive self in any of
the 3 games against the Pacers. He balanced 7.0 points, 4.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in those games compared with the 31.3 points he scored in last year’s
4-2 series loss to the Pacers and the 18.3 points and 9.3 assists he averaged in this season’s’4 regular-season games against Indiana.Advertisement He ranked 10th in the NBA in scoring(24.9 )and 10th in assists(7.1) this season.After Sunday’s game, the Pacers players who had actually sparred verbally with Lillard through the first 3 games of the series also sent their best to Lillard.Rivers chose to shake up
his starting lineup
Tuesday by inserting guards A.J. Green and Kevin Porter Jr., in addition to forward Bobby Portis Jr. Trent also returns to the beginning lineup.Lillard’s latest absence is yet the latest chapter in some bad postseason luck for the Bucks because winning their 2021 title.A knee injury
kept Khris Middleton out of the whole seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal loss to Boston in 2022. Antetokounmpo bruised his lower back in Game 1 and missed the next 2 games before returning in a 2023 first-round series loss to Miami. Antetokounmpo also missed out on all six games versus Indiana in 2024 with a stretched calf.
___ AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee also contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba