Milwaukee Bucks star Damien Lillard has been exempt from deep venous thrombosis in his right calf and is no longer taking medications that have thinned blood, the team announced Thursday. According to ESPN, Lillard will remain in Game 1 of the team’s first round playoff series on Saturday with the Indiana Pacers, but he has been allowed to resume full contact training and is heading towards a playoff return.
“We’re excited about Dame,” said Bucks GM Jon Horst. “Our prioritization has always been Dame’s health. Every step in Dame’s recovery has been in the direction of world-class medical professionals and certain strict protocols that have enabled Dame’s safe and healthy returns.”
Lillard’s recovery time is considered “historic”, partly thanks to early detection and treatment.
The exact timeline of Lillard’s returns remains unknown. The Bucks held the series on Saturday, with Game 2 scheduled for Thursday in Indianapolis. He then returned to home games 3 and 4 in Milwaukee on April 25th and 27th.
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Earlier this week, the Bucks said in a statement that Lillard has made “significant” improvements and continues to increase basketball activity on the court.
According to the team’s statement:
“Damien’s latest weekly scan shows that his injuries have improved significantly and that he can move forward safely by increasing his basketball activity,” said John Holst, general manager of the Bucks. “Damien’s health remains our number one priority. We follow strict protocols and continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damien’s progress.”
Lillard has been out after being diagnosed since March 18th, but in early April, manager Doc Rivers told reporters he had told him. I was optimistic All-Star Guards are back this season.
With Lillard’s absence, the Bucks were 10-4, closing the season with an eight-game winning streak. They played against the Pacers in the first round of the postseason, and Milwaukee managed to get away with Lillard in the regular season, but they certainly can use him in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo can carry the Bucks on his back as he did it many times, but Indiana is in tears to end the season. The Pacers started the season late, but by midway point they got things through to midway points and secured a top four seed in the Eastern Conference behind the offense ranked 9th in the league. The Pacers knocked out the Bucks in the first round last season. Antetocommapo missed the series due to an injury.
Indiana star Tyreese Halliburton has been changing the season, with him averaging 19.5 points, 9.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds from the field at 51% off the field and 43.1% off the deep. Then there’s Pascal Siakam, who is elite at both ends of the Indiana floor and is holding his defense along with Andrew Nenbird.
The Bucks are not leaning forward. They own the 11th best net rating this season, but if Lillard doesn’t take some of the responsibility for scoring from the shoulders of Antetocomo, it will make things even more difficult for Milwaukee in his series against an Indiana team who can quickly score points.
