Damian Lillard was cleared for full basketball activity three weeks after doctors discovered a blood clot in his right calf.
The Milwaukee guard stopped taking blood-thinning medication but remained unavailable for Game 1 of the Bucks’ first-round series against Indiana.
Doctors clear Lillard to return
Lillard last played on 18 March. Milwaukee announced one week later that a deep vein thrombosis had been found in his calf.
General manager Jon Horst said specialists followed strict medical protocols and made Lillard’s health the priority throughout treatment.
Coach Doc Rivers described the clearance as a major relief after an illness that could have threatened Lillard’s career.
Conditioning becomes the next challenge
Lillard joined practice on 17 April but did little live work. The Bucks set no firm date for his return.
Rivers said the guard had moved from almost certain to miss the entire postseason to having a strong chance of appearing against the Pacers.
The next step was rebuilding game fitness after a month without competition.
Bucks prepare to open without him
Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists during the regular season and earned his ninth All-Star selection.
Milwaukee won 10 of its final 14 games without him and entered the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak.
The Bucks had proved they could win short term, but Lillard’s scoring and late-game creation remained central to any deep run. His medical clearance kept that possibility alive.
