Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Milwaukee Bucks have upgraded Damian Lillard to “questionable” to play in game two of their NBA playoff series against Indiana, just a month after the All-Star guard was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
Lillard hasn’t played since March 18, missing the last 14 games of the regular season and the Bucks’ loss to the Pacers in game one of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Saturday. Lillard took part in his first full practice on Thursday after being cleared of blood clot and stopping blood-thinning medication used to treat it.
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Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that he wasn’t sure when Lillard would return, but there were “very positive signs” that he would play this post-season. However, Rivers noted that Lillard would need time to get back to game fitness. “You don’t miss all that and just jump back in,” Rivers said. “It’s just going to take a minute. I mean, it’s not like he’s been injured and working out.
“He’s been injured — and that’s what we can call it now, I guess — without working. That’s hard.” But the prospect of having Lillard in the lineup will still be a boost for the Bucks, who fell 117-98 to the Pacers in game one. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 36 points but had precious little offensive support from teammates.
Lillard, 34, was averaging just under 25 points per game this season with 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
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