Damian Lillard remains one of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ biggest hopes as they fight to keep their NBA Playoff run alive. Tuesday’s clash against the Indiana Pacers is a do-or-die matchup for Milwaukee, making it the most critical game of their postseason so far.
With Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge, the Bucks are banking on their stars to extend the series. Trailing 3-1 against Indiana, Milwaukee is desperate for a win to stay alive and keep their hopes of advancing to the next round alive.
Meanwhile, the Pacers will lean on Tyrese Haliburton to close out the series and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Cleveland Cavaliers await the winner of this matchup.
Is Damian Lillard playing tonight for the Bucks?
Damian Lillard will not suit up for the Milwaukee Bucks tonight due to an Achilles injury sustained during Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers. In a tough battle to stay alive in the series, Lillard suffered a non-contact injury that forced the team’s medical staff to sideline him for the remainder of the game.
Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks.
That moment proved pivotal for the Pacers, who had been struggling against a resilient Bucks squad. Without one of their key stars, Milwaukee fought to stay competitive, relying heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry the load during Game 4.
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Lillard’s injury update
Following Lillard’s setback in Game 4, the Bucks issued an official statement detailing the severity of the injury and his expected timeline for recovery. “Damian Lillard has been diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon. Lillard was helped off the court with a non-contact leg injury. He was ruled out for the remainder of Game 4 and is expected to miss the rest of the playoffs. He will also likely miss a portion of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from the injury,” the Bucks’ medical department announced.
How Lillard has impacted the Bucks this season
As Milwaukee prepares to face the rest of the postseason without one of its top players, Lillard’s contributions throughout the season cannot be overlooked. While his numbers didn’t surpass those of Antetokounmpo, Lillard played a critical role in the team’s success with his scoring and leadership. Here’s a closer look at Damian Lillard’s impact during the 2024-25 campaign.
- Regular season (58 games played):
- Points Per Game (PPG): 24.9
- Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 4.7
- Assists Per Game (APG): 7.1
- Steals Per Game (SPG): 1.2
- Blocks Per Game (BPG): 0.2
- Minutes Per Game (MPG): 36.1
- Field Goal Percentage (FG%): 44.8%
- Three-Point Percentage (3P%): 37.6%
- Free Throw Percentage (FT%): 92.1%
- True Shooting Percentage (TS%): 62.1%
- Playoffs (3 games played vs. Indiana Pacers):
- Points Per Game (PPG): 7.0
- Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 2.7
- Assists Per Game (APG): 4.7
- Steals Per Game (SPG): 0.7
- Blocks Per Game (BPG): 0.7
- Minutes Per Game (MPG): 25.0
- Field Goal Percentage (FG%): 18.8%
- Three-Point Percentage (3P%): 22.2% (4-18)
- Free Throw Percentage (FT%): 85.7% (6-7)
- True Shooting Percentage (TS%): 34.9%
SurveyCan the Bucks beat the Pacers without Lillard in Game 5 on Tuesday night?
Can the Bucks beat the Pacers without Lillard in Game 5 on Tuesday night?
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