Bucks' Damian Lillard has strained Achilles, status unclear.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard has a strained right Achilles tendon, sources confirmed to ESPN, putting his availability for Game 4 of the team's first-round series against the Indiana Pacers in jeopardy.Lillard was wearing a walking boot following the team's film session Saturday afternoon after agitating the injury near the end of the fourth quarter in Game 3 on Friday night. Lillard was grabbing at his leg after a foul on Aaron Nesmith with 6.2 seconds remaining in regulation. He stayed on the floor as Game 3 went into overtime, but he went scoreless and did not attempt a shot.
Lillard's Achilles has been bothering him for a few weeks. He revealed he had been feeling some discomfort following Milwaukee's regular-season finale in Orlando and then sat out the first few days of practice before the start of the playoffs in order to recover, a break Lillard said helped him feel fresh entering the series.
After Lillard agitated the injury in Game 3, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he served mostly as a decoy during overtime.
The Athletic was first to report the extent of Lillard's injury.
The Bucks trail the Pacers 2-1 in the series. Game 4 is Sunday night. The Bucks are now facing the prospect of trying to overcome the series deficit without Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has not played in this series because of a calf strain.
Antetokounmpo took a scheduled off day Saturday, but Rivers said Antetokounmpo expects to be on the court again Sunday morning ahead of Game 4.
"He's working out [Sunday], going to go hard, early, and then we're going to make a decision," Rivers said Saturday afternoon.
Could Antetokounmpo work out in the morning and feel good enough to play in Game 4?
"I doubt it," Rivers said. "But we'll see"
Buckwheat got 1.
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