NBA
Damian Lillard’s Achilles adds to black night for Bucks
Giannis left fighting alone as Pacers take 3-1 lead while a looming Achilles injury could reshape Lillard’s future.
The Milwaukee Bucks are staring down the barrel of a disastrous playoff exit. Tomorrow’s Game 5 in Indianapolis could mark the end – not just of their season – but potentially the end of an era. Should they lose again to the Indiana Pacers, it would mark a third consecutive first-round exit, an outcome that could finally push Giannis Antetokounmpo to consider pressing the nuclear button and requesting a trade from the only NBA team he has ever known.
If Sunday night’s 129-103 blowout loss is any indication, that scenario seems likely.
Pacers far superior in energy and depth
The Pacers, now leading 3-1, outclassed the Bucks in every aspect: energy, depth, execution, and chemistry. Milwaukee, once again, was left relying almost entirely on Giannis, who tried to drag his team forward with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists. But beyond him, the other three remaining starters managed a meager 15 combined points.
Even the bench struggled to close the gap, with Kevin Porter Jr. (23 points), Bobby Portis (14), and AJ Green (9) offering little resistance against the Pacers’ balanced attack. Indiana had eight players in double figures, led by Myles Turner’s 23 points, Andrew Nembhard’s 20, and a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton (17 points, 8 rebounds, 15 assists).
Damian Lillard’s Achilles injury looms large
If things weren’t bad enough for the Bucks, Damian Lillard’s likely Achilles injury could be the final nail in the coffin. Just seven minutes into Game 4, Lillard, who recently returned from a month-long absence due to a calf clot, went down without contact and was helped off the court without putting weight on his left leg. Early reports suggest a potential Achilles rupture, though confirmation is pending medical tests.
Should that diagnosis hold, it would be a devastating blow to the Bucks’ immediate hopes and Lillard’s career. The 34-year-old, set to turn 35 in July, had already shown signs of physical decline. A long rehab for a torn Achilles could mark the beginning of the end for the seven-time All-Star.
Pacers seize control after Lillard exit
After Lillard’s departure, Indiana took control. They outscored the Bucks 10-3, quickly building a double-digit lead. Although Milwaukee clawed back within five points, the Pacers stretched the gap to 11 by halftime. In the second half, Indiana shot 69.2% from the field (60.2% overall), leaving the Bucks gasping for answers.
With 4:44 left and the score at 120-98, Doc Rivers waved the white flag, pulling his starters. The game was lost – and possibly the series.
If Milwaukee falls in Game 5, a turbulent summer awaits. The franchise faces a crossroads, with Giannis’ patience wearing thin and Lillard’s future uncertain.
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34
Giannis Antetokounmpo
|
|
18
Kyle Kuzma
|
|
11
Brook Lopez
|
|
0
Damian Lillard
|
|
5
Gary Trent Jr.
|
|
24
Pat Connaughton
|
|
20
AJ Green
|
|
44
Andre Jackson Jr.
|
|
7
Chris Livingston
|
|
3
Kevin Porter Jr.
|
|
9
Bobby Portis
|
|
12
Taurean Prince
|
|
13
Ryan Rollins
|
|
0
Jericho Sims
|
| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
34
Giannis Antetokounmpo
|
33 | 28 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10/11 | 9/19 | 0/1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
18
Kyle Kuzma
|
16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 1/5 | 0/1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
11
Brook Lopez
|
14 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 2/5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
|
0
Damian Lillard
|
6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
5
Gary Trent Jr.
|
32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 2/5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
24
Pat Connaughton
|
9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 1/4 | 0/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
20
AJ Green
|
23 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 3/5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
44
Andre Jackson Jr.
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
7
Chris Livingston
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
3
Kevin Porter Jr.
|
33 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 | 4/10 | 5/7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
9
Bobby Portis
|
24 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 4/6 | 2/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
12
Taurean Prince
|
14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
13
Ryan Rollins
|
8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
0
Jericho Sims
|
14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
23
Aaron Nesmith
|
|
43
Pascal Siakam
|
|
33
Myles Turner
|
|
0
Tyrese Haliburton
|
|
2
Andrew Nembhard
|
|
13
Tony Bradley
|
|
3
Thomas Bryant
|
|
12
Johnny Furphy
|
|
16
James Johnson
|
|
9
T.J. McConnell
|
|
26
Ben Sheppard
|
|
1
Obi Toppin
|
|
5
Jarace Walker
|
| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23
Aaron Nesmith
|
24 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2/2 | 3/3 | 2/5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
43
Pascal Siakam
|
29 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2/2 | 5/8 | 0/2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
|
33
Myles Turner
|
29 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 1/3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
0
Tyrese Haliburton
|
33 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3/4 | 4/6 | 2/5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
2
Andrew Nembhard
|
31 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 4/6 | 4/8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
13
Tony Bradley
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
3
Thomas Bryant
|
7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
12
Johnny Furphy
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
16
James Johnson
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
9
T.J. McConnell
|
22 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 6/8 | 1/2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
26
Ben Sheppard
|
21 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
1
Obi Toppin
|
14 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/3 | 3/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
5
Jarace Walker
|
21 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 4/5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |