Most Portland Trail Blazers fans became Milwaukee Bucks fans once the 2024 NBA playoffs began. After a summer filled with drama, Damian Lillard was sent to The Cream City to join Giannis Antetokounmpo in search of his first NBA championship.
Milwaukee struggled to match expectations during the regular season, but surely the duo of Dame and Giannis would be enough to give the Bucks a shot at a deep playoff run, right?
Things have not gone according to plan. At all. Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury and missed the final three games of the regular season. He has yet to appear in a postseason game. Now, Lillard is in a walking boot dealing with an Achilles sprain. Both players are listed as doubtful heading into a critical Game 4 on the road against the Indiana Pacers with their team already trailing 2-1.
Damian Lillard won't play tonight for Bucks in Game 4 vs. Pacers
It's another tough blow for Dame as he's officially out for tonight's matchup with Indiana. He reinjured his Achilles late in the fourth quarter of Game 3 and told Milwaukee Head Coach Doc Rivers he could stay in the game as a decoy, but he had no lift or explosion on his shot.
Maybe another few days of rest for Lillard will prepare him for Game 5, but it might be an uphill battle by then if the Bucks are down 3-1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo listed as out for Game 4 in Indiana
Lillard's Milwaukee running mate will also miss tonight's game. That will mark the seventh straight for Antetokounmpo, and it's beginning to look like he won't be playing in this year's postseason at all.
Unless Khris Middleton (day-to-day with an ankle injury) can score 42 points in 41 minutes again or the Bucks can get some magical performances from their bench, Dame and Giannis may be looking at an early playoff exit.