The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the Bucks made an announcement.
An MRI on Monday confirmed the injury that was sustained Sunday in Game 4 against Indiana.
Lillard just returned to the lineup after missing more than a month with deep vein thrombosis. In late March, Lillard was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf. The issue was resolved and he returned on April 22 to play in Game 2 of the NBA first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks, who trail the best-of-seven series 3-1, must now rally without their nine-time All-Star guard, who also missed two games in the first-round series against the Pacers last season with an Achilles injury.
The Bucks traded for Lillard in 2023 in hopes of keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo and giving the Cream City a strong chance for a second NBA title while Antetokounmpo is in his prime. The Bucks won the NBA championship in 2021.
It was quickly obvious Lillard’s injury may be serious after he went down during Game 4.
Lillard appeared to try and control a loose ball coming his way with 6:11 left in the first quarter of the Bucks’ 129-103 loss Sunday.
Lillard fell on the floor holding his left ankle and needed help walking off the court. It appeared Lillard couldn’t put weight on his left leg.
He was taken back to the locker room and the Bucks announced that Lillard was not expected to return to the game due to a ‘left lower leg injury.’
‘Obviously it’s lower leg and just being honest, it’s not very promising,’ Bucks coach Doc Rivers said during the postgame news conference. ‘I knew it right away. I felt bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team, and I just felt bad for him. This one is a tough one.’
Damian Lillard injured vs. Pacers
Assistant coach Darvin Ham and another member of the Bucks’ staff initially helped Lillard off the court before a teammate helped the star guard back to the locker room.
Once in the tunnel on the way to the locker room, the television broadcast showed Lillard grab at the back of his left calf, just above his shoe, in the area where the Achilles tendon is located.
Lillard did not score any points but did collect two rebounds and one assist during his six minutes of play Sunday.
On the same date in 2024, Lillard suffered an injury in a first-round playoff series against the Pacers. The injury was considered a strained Achilles. He missed Games 4 and 5 but returned for Game 6. The Pacers won that game and the series.