Report: Bucks’ Damian Lillard diagnosed with torn left Achilles tendon

The Milwaukee Bucks received the worst-case scenario for injured star Damian Lillard, who was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon following an MRI, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Lillard exited the Bucks’ Game 4 outing Sunday against the Indiana Pacers after suffering an apparent lower-body injury in the first quarter.

The non-contact injury occurred midway through the first quarter. The Bucks announced later in the first half that the seven-time all-NBA guard had hurt his lower left leg and wouldn’t return to the game.

The seven-time all-NBA player was behind the three-point line when the ball bounced toward him. Lillard used his left hand to tip the ball toward teammate Gary Trent Jr., then went down and grabbed the lower part of his left leg, around his ankle. He continued to sit on the floor as play resumed on the other end of the court.

After a foul stopped play, Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma helped Lillard up. Lillard then started limping and had to be helped off the court and into the locker room. He exited the game having tallied two rebounds and two assists in his six minutes.

Lillard only recently returned to the Bucks’ lineup after dealing with deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) in his right calf that kept him out for over a month.

He was taken off blood-thinning medication and cleared to resume full basketball activities at the end of the regular season, and he returned to action for Game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old has struggled getting back up to speed against the Pacers, averaging 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 24.0 per cent from the field and 18.8 per cent from three-point range over his two appearances going into Sunday.

In his second full season with the Bucks since being acquired in a trade ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, the nine-time all-star averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 44.8 per cent from the field and 37.6 per cent from deep.

“He’s one of the toughest, mentally toughest guys I’ve ever been around, that’s why he is who he is,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “I believe he’s going to overcome every obstacle that’s put in front of him. Everybody’s going to be there for him.”

— With files from the Associated Press