The already-shorthanded Bucks have yet another injury scare.
The Eastern Conference No. 3 seed, trailing 2-1 in their first-round series to the Pacers, saw star point guard Damian Lillard suffer a setback in their 121-118 overtime loss on Friday night.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, who are already without superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a calf strain, Lillard re-aggravated a pre-existing Achilles injury, head coach Doc Rivers said after the loss.
“I think it’s his Achilles again, so we’ll see,” Rivers said after the loss.
Damian Lillard temporarily left Game 3 against the Pacers due to an injury. Getty Images“Honestly, Dame was really struggling,” Rivers added. “In the overtime, he literally said, ‘I’ll be the decoy. I just can’t go as far as explosion.’ So, I thought Dame just being out there was huge for us.”
Lillard temporarily left the game due to the apparent injury in the first quarter, going to the locker room for a short period before returning to the contest early in the second.
Lillard had previously aggravated his Achilles in the Bucks’ final regular season game on April 14 against the Magic, which led to him missing practices leading up to the playoffs, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The plan is for Lillard to play in Game 4 despite the injury, he said Friday after the loss.
Damian Lillard scored 28 points in the Bucks 121-118 overtime loss to the Pacers. Getty ImagesLillard still scored 28 points in the loss but was limited to just 6-for-20 shooting from the field.
He did drain all 12 of his free-throw attempts in the contest and dished out a team-high eight assists.
The Bucks-Pacers series will resume in Indiana on Sunday for Game 4 before going back to Milwaukee for Game 5 on Tuesday.
