Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard returns for a first-round sequence towards the Indiana Pacers. After the Bucks introduced Lillard was coping with a deep vein thrombosis, he missed 12 consecutive video games. Head coach Doc Rivers offered an encouraging announcement earlier than the most effective information, concerning Damian’s return, made it official.
Lillard mentioned he felt it was time to return to the ground, per Bucks’ X, previously Twitter.
“The second that I be ok with it, I am not going to be all ready, and all of that,” Lillard mentioned. “The second I really feel I can go, I am a go. That is what I can inform you.”
Damian Lillard cleared to play for Bucks
Bucks guard Damian Lillard returns cleared to play for in Recreation 1 of the Bucks’ first-round sequence towards the Pacers on Thursday. The excellent news comes simply earlier than the postseason.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported Lillard’s return on Thursday.
“Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard has been cleared of his deep vein thrombosis and is not on blood-thinning remedy, sources inform ESPN,” reported Charania on X, previously Twitter. “Lillard is out for Recreation 1 Saturday towards Indiana and could have a time frame to renew contact exercises and ramp up for return.”
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The Bucks completed their common season 8-2 of their final ten video games of the common season. They are going to face the Pacers within the first spherical of the playoffs. Lillard completed the common season averaging 24.9 factors, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 58 video games.
Earlier than the information broke, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was hopeful of Lillard’s return, suggesting he was on the way in which to creating a full restoration, per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski.
“All the pieces remains to be progressing positively. Final take a look at was improbable. So, you already know, that is about all I’ve. Fingers crossed,” Rivers mentioned.
Whereas Lillard’s return is an enormous step within the first route, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers will nonetheless want precious manufacturing from his supporting forged, together with wing Kyle Kuzma, middle Bobby Portis, and shooter Pat Connaughton, who erupted for 43 factors, together with 5 threes within the Bucks’ 134-133 time beyond regulation win towards the Pistons.
Connaughton averaged 13.4 factors on 56.5% capturing, together with 37.5 from deep in his earlier 5 outings. Kuzma posted 14.1 factors on 54.9% capturing, together with 44.4% from behind the three-point arc, in his eight video games in April. And Portis averaged 16.3 factors, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals within the Bucks’ final three video games of the common season.
The Bucks will host Recreation 1 towards the Pacers on Saturday.