Sources: Bucks’ Lillard has torn Achilles tendon

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard has been recognized with a torn left Achilles tendon, resources instructed ESPN’s Shams Charania on Monday.

An MRI previous within the day printed the severity of the harm, which can finish Lillard’s season and in addition places his 2025-26 season in jeopardy because of the prolonged restoration timeline of the harm.

Lillard suffered the harm all over Sunday evening’s 129-103 Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers when he attempted to stay an offensive rebound alive and went to knock the ball clear of a Pacers participant prior to he crumbled to the courtroom with out touch.

He remained at the flooring because the defensive ownership happened at the different finish of the ground, grabbing his left foot after which sitting together with his elbows on his knees looking ahead to a stoppage in play.

Lillard needed to be helped off the ground and into the locker room with out striking any weight on his left leg. He exited the sector Sunday evening in a strolling boot and on crutches and Bucks trainer Doc Rivers stated after the sport his standing used to be “not promising.”

Lillard had labored his as far back as the courtroom about one month after he used to be recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his proper leg. He ignored the workforce’s ultimate 14 common season video games and Game 1 of the playoffs prior to returning to play the closing two video games, despite the fact that he used to be no longer in a position to compare his same old manufacturing — averaging 7.0 issues and 4.7 assists in 3 video games on 6 of 27 taking pictures (3-for-16 from 3).

Lillard performed in 58 video games in his 2d season in Milwaukee and gave the impression a lot more relaxed. He used to be extra environment friendly at the courtroom, averaging 24.9 issues and 7.1 assists on 45% taking pictures (38% from 3), and emerged as one of the vital leaders within the locker room along Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Rivers admitted the workforce were given deflated when Lillard went down halfway during the first quarter of Game 4. The Bucks by no means recovered and at the moment are going through a a 3-1 sequence deficit with their season at the line heading into Game 5 in Indiana on Tuesday.

Lillard, who will flip 35 in July, has some other assured yr and a participant possibility for 2026-27 final on his contract. In the 2 seasons for the reason that Bucks obtained Lillard in a business with Portland, he’s averaging 24.6 issues.

This harm persisted a string of harm woes for Milwaukee within the postseason. Either Lillard or Antetokounmpo has ignored no less than one playoff sport in each and every of the closing 3 postseasons. The Bucks also are going through the opportunity of a first-round go out for the 3rd immediately season and feature received only one playoff sequence since shooting the NBA championship in 2021.