The Milwaukee Bucks are once again heading into the postseason facing a major injury crisis. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Damian Lillard will miss the start of the NBA Playoffs as he continues treatment and monitoring for a blood clot in his right calf, medically known as deep vein thrombosis.
Lillard has been sidelined since March 18, and while sources say there’s optimism for a return at some point in the playoffs, the Bucks will open their first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday without their All-Star point guard.
This is a devastating development for Milwaukee, especially considering how eerily similar the situation is to last year. In the 2024 playoffs, the Bucks finished third in the Eastern Conference and faced the sixth-seeded Pacers—only to lose Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury in the final weeks.
Lillard got hurt midway through that series and missed two games, leading to a stunning six-game elimination. Now, a year later, the opponent is the same, but the roles are reversed: Giannis is healthy, but Lillard is the one watching from the sidelines.
The Bucks’ problems go far beyond just Lillard’s absence. Their chemistry has been inconsistent all season, and their 48-34 record has them clinging to the fifth seed in the East. Without Lillard, they’ll have to rely on Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry an enormous load on both ends of the floor.
Giannis is already averaging a monstrous 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, but now he must elevate his performance even further if Milwaukee hopes to survive the opening round.
The outlook for Lillard’s return remains murky. While reports suggest he has made significant progress and is ramping up basketball activity, there’s no clear timetable.
He has been placed on blood thinners to manage the clot, and while that has stabilized the condition, any contact sport becomes immediately more dangerous under such medication.
Given the seriousness of blood clots—Chris Bosh’s career was prematurely ended by a pulmonary embolism—it’s clear the Bucks and Lillard are taking a cautious, long-term approach.
Lillard was brought to Milwaukee to form a championship duo with Giannis. The Bucks traded Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and future picks to acquire Dame, hoping his scoring and clutch shot-making would be the missing piece in their quest for a second title in four years.
He’s delivered when healthy, averaging 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists this season on 44.8% shooting. Yet injuries and bad luck have consistently disrupted the Bucks’ momentum.
Now, the pressure falls on Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Brook Lopez, and Kyle Kuzma—acquired midseason—to step up. Kuzma, in particular, will need to serve as a secondary scorer to Giannis, while the team’s defensive unit must find a way to contain Tyrese Haliburton and a dynamic Indiana offense.
Milwaukee’s playoff path has never looked more precarious. Without Lillard’s shot creation, perimeter threat, and veteran leadership, the Bucks are facing a real possibility of another early postseason exit.
Giannis may be capable of single-handed brilliance, but whether he can carry this depleted team past a surging Pacers squad remains to be seen. The clock is ticking, and for the Bucks, every game without Dame could be a step closer to collapse.
