Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is feared to have suffered an Achilles injury during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
Lillard exited the game in the first quarter and had to be helped off the court and into the locker room.
The video below gives a close-up look, with the guard’s calf appearing to pop, which is typical in cases of such an injury.
Check it out below:
I am worried Damian Lillard just tore his Achilles. The DVT is unrelated to this. You can see the calf reverberate on this video #bucks @StevenCheah is correct pic.twitter.com/GleDTpJxxX
— Eric Friedman, MD (@sportsinjuryMD) April 28, 2025
“Doc – sadly, you were right. Never would have brought him back for a series they couldn’t win,” one fan commented.
Doc – sadly, you were right. Never would have brought him back for a series they couldn't win.
— Data Please (@Datapleaz) April 28, 2025
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was candid in his assessment of the injury after his team’s 129-103 loss.
“They’re going to do an image tomorrow,” he told reporters. “It’s lower leg. And, just being honest, it’s not very promising.”
Following Lillard leaving the floor, the Bucks announced later in the first half that he would not return due to a lower-leg injury.
He sustained the injury while tipping a loose ball to teammate Gary Trent Jr., going down and grabbing his left leg near the ankle area.
Damian Lillard Made A Miraculous Comeback Following A Serious Diagnosis
The All-Star point guard made a surprise comeback in the playoffs following a diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis in his right calf. The issue forced Lillard to miss the last 14 games of the Bucks’ regular season, as well as the first game of the current series.
The 34-year-old was on blood-thinning medication for the thrombosis but was taken off it and cleared to resume full basketball activity, making his return to the court for Game 2.
In hindsight, the decision to return this early may have been ill-advised.
Meanwhile, the Bucks trail 3-1 in the series.
