The Milwaukee Bucks have been rocked by a devastating injury to Damian Lillard.
After battling back from a blot clot diagnosis, another crushing setback now threatens the career of Damian Lillard.
Damian Lillard suffered a serious injury just six minutes into the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Game 4 playoff against the Indiana Pacers.
Lillard had to be helped off the court and it was later confirmed he has suffered a torn Achilles.
The 35-year-old now faces a lengthy recovery, with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo backing him to bounce back, even though this creates more questions about his future.
In the short-term, the Bucks are still alive in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, but staring down elimination ar 3-1 down in the series.
The Milwaukee Bucks crowd was devastated by Damian Lillard’s injury, and forced to re-adjust, the team went down to a 129-103 home defeat.
Several Bucks players struggled, with Gary Trent Jr stepping back from his 37 point performance in Game 3 to score just 6 points.
Kyle Kuzma’s struggles continued with just 3 points total, while Brook Lopez contributed just 6 points.
The one player alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo who produced was Kevin Porter Jr, a mid-season addition.
Porter Jr came off the bench to score 23 points in addition to 5 rebounds and 6 assists, his third highest scoring game for Milwaukee.
Speaking after the game, Porter Jr says he knew a lot of extra responsibility would fall his way, and felt able to contribute after filling in when Lillard was out at the end of the regular season.
He explained: “This business is the business of the next man up, and things happen, you got to look at what you got and figure it out.
“Him being out the games that he were, I had to take the bigger role, and as soon as that play happen, I already know I got to step up now, I got to elevate everything, that’s what I tried to do, just give a lot of energy anyway I can, keep the team high spirited.”
Porter Jr certainly did his part but the combination of a deflated crowd and an ruthless Pacers meant the Bucks had too much to overcome.
He added: “Personally Dame means a lot to me, I was one of those high schoolers that got the luxury of meeting him very early.”
The Indiana Pacers host Game 5 and have a chance to clinch the series. Kevin Porter Jr is not giving up, and says the Milwaukee Bucks feel they can spring a surprise.
“If any team can come back from 3-1 it’s this team. We’re all believing that.
“We’re desperate right now, we’re going to watch film and see the extra efforts that we are going to do, and hopefully Game 5 we correct them.”
