Milwaukee Bucks star player, Damian Lillard, has received positive news regarding his health. Doctors have confirmed that he does not have deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and he is no longer on blood thinners. This announcement was made by the team on Thursday.
Although Lillard will not play in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, according to ESPN reports, he is now allowed to participate in full practice sessions. His recovery is moving forward, and he is expected to return sometime during the playoffs.
Bucks General Manager Jon Horst expressed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled for Dame. Our main concern has always been his well-being. His recovery has been guided by top medical experts and strict protocols, ensuring his safe return to playing.”
Lillard`s quick recovery is considered remarkable, partly due to early detection and treatment of the issue.
The exact date of Lillard`s return is still uncertain. The Bucks` playoff series begins on Saturday, with Game 2 scheduled for Thursday in Indianapolis. Games 3 and 4 will be played in Milwaukee on April 25th and 27th.
Earlier this week, the Bucks mentioned that Lillard was showing “significant” improvement and was increasing his basketball activities on the court.
Lillard has been out since March 18th. At the beginning of April, Coach Doc Rivers had expressed optimism about Lillard returning this season.
Without Lillard, the Bucks achieved a 10-4 record, ending the regular season with an eight-game winning streak. They will face the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. While the Bucks performed well without Lillard in the regular season, his presence will be crucial in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo is capable of leading the team, but the Pacers have been playing very well recently. Despite a slow start to the season, Indiana improved significantly and secured a high seed in the Eastern Conference with a strong offense. It`s worth noting that the Pacers eliminated the Bucks in the first round last season when Antetokounmpo was injured.
Indiana`s star player, Tyrese Haliburton, has improved his performance this season. Since January 1st, he has been averaging impressive numbers, demonstrating his All-Star level abilities. Pascal Siakam has also been a key player for Indiana, contributing on both offense and defense.
The Bucks are a strong team, ranked 11th in net rating this season. However, without Lillard to share the scoring load with Antetokounmpo, their playoff series against the high-scoring Pacers will be more challenging.
Jasper Hawthorne