Damian Lillard Injury Update: 5:40 p.m. ET — Damian Lillard will start for the Bucks tonight in Game 2 against the Pacers, a huge boost for the Bucks who lost Game 1. Coach Doc Rivers said they will monitor his conditioning and minutes tonight in his first game back.
Against a Pacers team that runs up in pace, we may see Lillard play less than his 36.1 average minutes per game, but it doesn't sound like he is on a hard minutes limit.
The Bucks lost Game 1 of their series against the Pacers. Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo shined with 36 points, but no other Bucks player scored more than 15 points. The Bucks sorely missed PG Damian Lillard, who has been out for just over a month as he continues to recover from a blood clot in his calf.
Damian Lillard was upgraded to questionable to play in Game 2 of the first round matchup. But his status for Tuesday’s game is up in the air.
Lillard was cleared to resume basketball activities earlier in April after he was ruled out for the entirety of the regular season, and has been working on his conditioning to get back onto the floor.
Below, get the latest injury update for Lillard heading into Game 2. Also, find Lillard’s projections vs. the Pacers tonight on PrizePicks if he does make his return.
Damian Lillard Injury Update for Tuesday, April 22
According to the Bucks official injury report, Lillard is listed as questionable to play in Game 2. His injury designation is listed as “return to competition reconditioning,” not the blood clot issues that sidelined him.
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Is Damian Lillard Playing Tonight vs. Pacers?
While Lillard is officially listed as questionable, signs seem to be pointing towards him making his return tonight. Lillard practiced on Monday and has gone through team scrimmages for the last two days.
The blood clot is no longer the issue, it’s a matter of Lillard improving his conditioning enough to be able to play in a live game. Given how long he has been sidelined, even if Lillard returns tonight, he could face a minutes restriction as he ramps up to game action.
Given the Bucks being down 0-1 in the series, getting Lillard back could be key in helping them avoid a second straight loss.
Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 3.4 three-pointers across 36 minutes per game this season.
Damian Lillard Projections vs. Pacers Today
Here are Lillard’s projections vs. the Pacers on PrizePicks today, where you can pick More or Less on player stats and win cash if your picks are correct.
Lillard is projected to score 19.5 points and his combo projection is 29 points + rebounds + assists.
Make Bucks vs. Pacers Picks on PrizePicks
The Bucks desperately want to avoid two straight losses to begin their series with the Pacers. Giannis did all he could to get them the win in Game 1, but potentially getting Lillard back in Game 2 could be key.
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