Damian Lillard suffers Achilles strain, doubtful for Game 4

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
#Bucks injury updates on Giannis Antetokounmpo, 📈Khris Middleton and 📉Damian Lillard for Game 4 vs. Pacers jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 2:41 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Updated story with comments today from Doc Rivers: Damian Lillard suffers strained Achilles, Rivers says he’s ‘not looking great’ for Game 4
nbcsports.com/nba/news/damia… – 2:06 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Bucks’ Lillard has MRI, team awaiting results before deciding if he plays in Game 4 vs. Pacers
apnews.com/article/damian… – 1:40 PM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Damian Lillard injury: Bucks star doubtful for Game 4 vs. Pacers with Achilles tendon strain cbssports.com/nba/news/damia… – 1:28 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Rick Carlisle says that, like with Giannis, the Pacers will prep as if Damian Lillard is playing tomorrow. – 1:25 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard has a strained Achilles, sources told ESPN.
Lillard was wearing a walking boot today following a team film session. The injury had been bothering him for a while and he aggravated it in the 4th quarter of Game 3 – 1:22 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Damian Lillard suffers strained Achilles, is in a walking boot and may miss Game 4
nbcsports.com/nba/news/damia… – 1:06 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Dame this playoffs:
32.3 PPG
5.3 APG
5.3 3PM
44.4 3P%
96.4 FT%
Leading the Bucks in points, assists and threes. statmuse.com/nba/player/dam… – 1:00 PM

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Milwaukee Bucks’s Damian Lillard questionable for Game-4 sportando.basketball/en/milwaukee-b… – 12:50 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
News of Lillard’s injury coming out as the Pacers wrap up practice.
Up 2-1, no Giannis and perhaps no Dame … they must take advantage of the circumstances. Regardless, Bucks are going to be the more tired team for G4.
Even before dropping 42pts, Middleton was questionable. – 12:47 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Damian Lillard has suffered a strained Achilles and there is serious doubt over his availability for Game 4 on Sunday, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/MYitM6VQQl – 12:46 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Damian Lillard has suffered a strained Achilles and there serious doubt over his availability for Game 4 on Sunday, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/Bpv8chHFq6 – 12:46 PM

Sean Highkin @highkin
Really sucks for Dame. – 12:44 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard has suffered a strained Achilles, is in a walking boot and there is serious doubt over his availability for Game 4 vs. Pacers on Sunday, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/jQUJpovsSM – 12:41 PM

Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
#Texans GM Nick Caserio draft picks by school:
SEC: Bama (4), LSU (2), Texas A&M, Fla, Georgia
P12: Stanford (2), Zona, Oreg St, USC
B10: Penn St, Ohio St, Michigan
B12: TCU (2), Iowa St, Baylor
ACC: Pitt, Miami
N. Dame (2)
UH*
*Dell only non-power 5 pick (by conf. at the time) – 11:32 AM

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FULL BREAKDOWN pic.twitter.com/c1feRNe7RW – 10:38 AM

Henry Abbott @TrueHoop
Holy crap now Dame has an Achilles issue?
The best players in the world are being ground to pieces when the games matter most.
Why are Giannis, Zion, Jimmy, Kawhi, and Joel on fumes? Why can’t we see them at their best?
FREE FOR ALL: truehoop.com/p/why-is-this-… – 9:35 AM

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Milwaukee Bucks: Lillard questionable for Game 4 against Indiana Pacers @Sportando sportando.basketball/en/milwaukee-b… – 4:52 AM

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
First, #Bucks guard Damian Lillard twisted up his left knee – only to come back afterward.
Then, he aggravates an Achilles tendon that renders him a decoy in OT.
So, ready to go in Game 4?
“I mean, that’s the plan.”
jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via @journalsentinel – 10:48 PM

Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Dame Lillard on his Achilles injury and if he’ll play in Game 4: “That’s the plan.” pic.twitter.com/FZp5aORglz – 9:50 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard said Pascal Siakam landed on his foot, which twisted his knee in the first quarter. He said he then aggravated an Achilles injury in the 4th quarter
He’s hoping to get out ahead of the rehab/treatment process to get some explosiveness back for Game 4 – 9:39 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
“Every game, the series is going to change,” Lillard said. He thinks the Bucks played a good game today outside of some offensive rebounds and early execution. Said the Bucks have to stay in it mentally. – 9:32 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Damian Lillard re-aggravated his Achilles injury late in this game. He’s hopefully he will get his burst back by Sunday. – 9:29 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Damian Lillard went to the locker room with an Achilles injury before playing the rest of Game 3.
“Dame was really struggling. In the overtime, he said I’ll be the decoy. I just can’t go, as far as explosion.” – 9:00 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Doc Rivers, on Damian Lillard: “I think it’s his Achilles again, so we’ll see.”
Rivers: “Honestly, Dame was really struggling. 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.” – 8:58 PM

Mark Montieth @MarkMontieth
Most surprising thing in the box score for me was that Lillard hit just six of 20 shots. – 8:43 PM

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Bucks lose. This play by Dame is on my mind.
Final minute of regulation. Grifts for a foul on minor contact by tossing up an ugly shot. Flops.
Scored 28 points but went 6/20. Middleton is giving Milwaukee everything he can with Giannis out, but Lillard needs to be much better. pic.twitter.com/RgCle86X9L – 8:38 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Beautiful ATO by Doc knowing they’d put 2 on the ball on Dame and there’d be no body to take Middleton after Lopez then screened for him. Turner figured it out just a little late and got a decent contest but it banked in. Maybe Pacers should consider fouling if they up 3 in 2OT? – 8:31 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Baffling that the Pacers aren’t fouling like they had all season. Easy opportunity was there with Lillard.
Don’t care that he’s 12/12 at the line, I’ll take those chances up 3.
Instead, Middleton drains another 3-pointer to tie the game. – 8:31 PM

Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
Not ideal that Dame looks hobbled as the last play is coming up – 8:13 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
I understand Lillard’s frustration because that call has been there for him all night – 8:11 PM

Kelly Iko @KellyIko
WOW. Huge second effort by Siakam puts Indiana up 109-106 with 19.1 seconds remaining. Bucks challenging the Lillard blocking foul. – 8:09 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
It’s just not really fun to watch Lillard draw fouls. – 8:05 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Lillard and Middleton getting those first half of the season calls right now – 7:58 PM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
This is just nasty stuff from Dame pic.twitter.com/kyGbZ85J0P – 7:49 PM

Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
Gap gap gap. Bucks defending Dame like they’ve never seen play. – 7:48 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Bucks nearly get a third straight 3-pointer from Lillard. Instead, missed it and Portis put it in.
12-2 Bucks run and they have their first lead of the game.
Pacers’ offense has stalled. – 7:48 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian Lillard with another stepback 3.
And the Bucks have the lead. – 7:45 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
92-90 now after a nasty Lillard 3. Pacers offense still with just 25 points in the second half. They have to find their early-game form if they’re going to hold off the Bucks. – 7:41 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Lillard buried his third 3-pointer and suddenly the Bucks are within two points with 10mins left.
Carlisle uses a timeout after they’re outscored 7-2 to start the 4Q. – 7:41 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian Lillard hits a 3. Rick Carlisle calls a timeout.
And it is a two-point game.
Pacers up, 92-90, with 10:19 left. – 7:41 PM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Lillard and PatBev have both snoozed on blockouts on Hali tonight. Four easy points for Indy. – 7:22 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Andre Jackson Jr. and Pat Connaughton entering for the Bucks with Damian Lillard at the line for three free throws.
Pacers up, 82-72, with 5:59 left in the third quarter. – 7:17 PM

Kelly Iko @KellyIko
I probably wouldn’t have Lillard on the backline of a zone trying to help on a Siakam straight-line drive. – 7:15 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
A big two-hand slam for Brook Lopez on the roll from Damian Lillard off of the V-action in transition. Quick timeout to Rick Carlisle.
Pacers up, 75-64, with 8:38 left in the third quarter. – 7:06 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Andrew Nembhard hits a 3, celebrates for about 0.1 seconds, then turns to figure out where Damian Lillard is for defensive purposes. – 7:03 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Half: Pacers 67, Bucks 55
– Middleton 19pts/4reb
– Beverley 11pts
– Lopez 10pts/2ast
– Lillard 9pts/5ast
The Bucks recovered well after a disastrous first quarter, but still trail by double digits. – 6:46 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers up 67-55 at half, didn’t lose too much ground in the 2Q — their worst.
They shot it well (51%) & were +21 from distance. Lillard wasn’t a huge factor, but Middleton (19pts) elevated his play. Bucks starting to have success in the paint.
Turner has 15pts, Toppin w/ 14. – 6:46 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks needed that Lillard 3, which would have cut the deficit to four. Got him open and he missed it.
Instead, Nesmith gets 3 FTs when Jackson fouled him on a corner 3 and the Pacers are back up by 10. – 6:41 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Did the referees just make a decision to start calling those BS fouls feeling contact and throwing up crap again midway through the 3rd of PHI/NYK last night? That Dame one on TJ was miserable. – 6:24 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Damian Lillard back in the game. – 6:17 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard has rejoined the team on the bench and is checking back into the game – 6:17 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
And Damian Lillard has come out to the Bucks bench at the start of the second quarter.
And Doc Rivers has put him back in the game with 11:38 left in the second quarter. – 6:17 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers up 17 after 1 and Dame’s health is a big question.
Quite a varied 1Q. Pacers assisted on 14 of 17FGs, made five 3s and their bench was +17.
Bucks are 0/6 from 3, but outscored the Pacers from the FT line 10-0. – 6:14 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
That’s about as bad as the first quarter could have gone for the Bucks. Pacers out and running early and Damian Lillard in the locker room with an injury.
Pacers up, 39-22, after one quarter. – 6:13 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
I’ve got a high level of concern for Lillard’s left knee. The defender landed on his heel right as Lillard landed, forcing his knee forward and inward. – 6:09 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Opposite of G1, Pacers are knocking down 3s.
They’re 5/13, Bucks are 0/6.
And now Lillard (left knee) is back in the locker room. – 6:09 PM

Evan Sidery @esidery
Damian Lillard is now gingerly walking back to the Bucks’ locker room.
Worst-case scenario for Milwaukee if they are now without Giannis and Lillard. – 6:08 PM

Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Dame Lillard headed back to the locker room. – 6:07 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Damian Lillard just went back to the locker room. – 6:07 PM

Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Lillard hobbling around after an awkward fall in Indiana… – 6:07 PM

Kenny Beecham @KOT4Q
Not Dame too 🤦🏿‍🤦🏿‍ – 6:07 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard went down on the floor and was grabbing his left leg in pain. He had to be helped to the Bucks bench – 6:06 PM

Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Lillard can barely put any weight on his foot. Looked like a real struggle to get to the bench. – 6:06 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Damian Lillard came down on a layup attempt (contested by Siakam) and is clutching his left knee. In serious pain.
Trying to walk it off. – 6:06 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian Lillard is on the ground after that finish, grabbing at his left knee.
He eventually got up and made his way to the bench, but he was hopping on his right leg all the way to the bench. – 6:06 PM

Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
Oh no Dame… – 6:06 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Damian Lillard is down clutching his left knee. – 6:05 PM