The Milwaukee Bucks have a possible date for when star point guard Damian Lillard will return to action in their series against the Indiana Pacers.
Shams Charania announced on NBA Countdown that Damian Lillard will return to action for Game 2 or 3 of the series. Lillard has been engaged in full-contact practice since Thursday and has been ramping up his preparations for getting back on the court.
Lillard set to return for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 or Game 3
It has been a miraculous recovery for Lillard since being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. Thankfully, it was caught early, and doctors have been stunned by his recovery in just over a month. Charania said that getting him on blood thinners early has helped with the clot in his calf being reduced, and his calf is now strong.
This is huge news for the Bucks and, of course, Lillard to be able to get back out there. He will miss Game 1 in Indiana, but the Bucks do have Jericho Sims back available and Bobby Portis after his 25-game suspension.
Milwaukee is on an eight-game win streak, so they go into the first game full of confidence. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been showing his MVP self, and the team as a whole has really found its stride. Portis' return has added some much-needed scoring from the bench and an extra body on the boards. Ryan Rollins is the likely candidate to start in Game 1 with Lillard out, leaving Kevin Porter Jr. to come off the bench.
Defensively, the Bucks will be looking to utilize their athletic lineup that involves Giannis and Portis in the frontcourt, with Porter, Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green at the wing positions. Being versatile and athletic is key against this young Pacers team. Indiana likes to play at a high tempo, and the Bucks will look to slow it down, but they will inevitably need to match them for periods in game one.
Many signs were pointing towards missing the majority of the first round, but this now allows the Bucks to integrate him back into the lineup earlier than hoped. It will be the first time we get to see Damian Lillard and Giannis on the court together in the playoffs.
Lillard may not return to the starting lineup at first as he needs to ramp up his conditioning, but who knows, he may enter Game 2 and be the extra offensive punch the Milwaukee Bucks are looking for to get revenge on the Pacers.
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