Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard will miss the start of the team’s playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, according to sources who spoke to ESPN. Lillard’s blood clot injury “has significantly improved” since he was diagnosed on March 25th, explained Bucks general manager Jon Horst.
“Damian’s most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved, which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity,” Horst said in a statement. “Damian’s health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian’s progress.”
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard (blood clot) will miss the start of the NBA playoffs, sources tell ESPN. Bucks play Game 1 of the first round against the Pacers on Saturday. Lillard has been sidelined since March 18, and doctors continue to monitor progress for clearance. pic.twitter.com/W8CqbSt3G1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 15, 2025
“There’s no guarantee we are going to have him,” said Bucks head coach Doc Rivers in early April. “We get him back, we know how to play.”
Lillard is the Bucks’ second-best scorer (24.9 points per game) and leading passer with 7.1 assists per game.
The Bucks just need to survive
Milwaukee’s playoff series against the Pacers just became that much harder. However, they still have enough firepower to beat Indy. It just might require six or seven games to do so.
The Bucks have managed to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race, even after Lillard went down. During his absence, the Bucks went 10-4 and closed out the season on an eight-game winning streak.
Giannis Antetokounmpo no longer gets the respect he once did when discussing the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, but he has played like the league MVP during this Lillard-less stretch. In Antetokounmpo’s last 11 starts without Lillard, the Bucks are 8-3, and the Greek Freak is averaging 31.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. In all likelihood, Giannis will need to increase those averages in Milwaukee’s first few playoff games if they want to avoid another first-round exit.
UPDATE: Damian Lillard has made significant improvement on his deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He will continue to increase his on-court basketball activity.
“Damian’s most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move…
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 15, 2025
Antetokounmpo should be able to meet those expectations in the postseason. In four matchups against Indy this season, he has averaged 30 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. Considering Lillard might not be available until much later in the series (if at all), I believe Antetokounmpo will have to average at least 35 points per game if the Bucks want to have any shot at winning this thing without Lillard.
They’ll also need somebody else to step up in Lillard’s place, like Kevin Porter Jr. or Kyle Kuzma, who have combined to average 32.2 points in their last ten games. It also helps that Bobby Portis Jr. has returned to the lineup. In his final three starts of the regular season, he has managed to put up 16.3 points per game. One of those three guys will have to break the 20-point-per-game threshold if the Bucks want any chance of making this a competitive series.
Two wins might be enough for Milwaukee. If they can steal two wins in the first five games of this series, I think that might give Damian Lillard enough time to fully heal and return to the court in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. While they could win this thing without Lillard, I think his availability will make this series much more attainable for the Bucks. If Milwaukee can force a fifth or sixth game, then I believe Lillard will be able to return to the court and help Milwaukee close this series out in seven games.
