Bucks fear Damian Lillard tore achilles in Game 4 loss versus Pacers

Bucks fear Damian Lillard tore achilles in Game 4 loss versus Pacers

The Milwaukee Bucks fear that star guard Damian Lillard suffered a torn achilles in the first half of Sunday’s 129-103 Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers, NBA insider Chris Haynes was first to report.

Sources: The fear is Bucks star Damian Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear. Brutal circumstance after working himself back from a blood clot diagnosis that kept him out over a month. https://t.co/NgQtMpm0yE

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 28, 2025

Haynes originally reported Lillard would not return to the game with an injury that was “potentially severe,” though he reported the potential prognosis shortly thereafter.

The injury has not been confirmed. Haynes has a lot of intel related to Lillard’s camp, so it’s wise to trust what he’s hearing at this time.

Lillard, 34, went down on a non-contact play after going for a loose offensive rebound. He collapsed while approaching the ball, eventually swatting the ball to his teammate in the corner. He was helped off the floor and was unable to put any weight on his left leg.

He finished with just two rebounds and two assists in six minutes.

Classic step back tension leading to the Achilles injury for Dame Lillard.

Sad to see.
pic.twitter.com/XWHpkBZsta

— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) April 28, 2025

This is an awful break for the nine-time All-Star, who recently returned from deep vein thrombosis after missing roughly a month. This was his third game back, struggling in his first two games with 14 and seven points, respectively.

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For the season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.1 steals on 44.8 percent shooting, 37.6 percent from 3-point range and 92.1 percent from the free-throw line. He did not qualify for any postseason awards since he only played 58 games.

Assuming he is out with a torn achilles, he could miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season, which would be his age-35 season. Lillard isn’t getting younger, and torn achilles injuries at his stage of his career are incredibly difficult to come back from–regardless of his position or athleticism.

Not to mention Giannis Antetokounmpo, it will be on Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr.’s shoulders to play above their head if Milwaukee wants to avoid their third-straight first-round exit.

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