Damian Lillard left with a non-contact leg injury as Indiana beat Milwaukee 129-103 to take a 3-1 first-round series lead.
The Bucks guard went down in the opening quarter on 27 April 2025 and could not put weight on his left leg.
Lillard falls while reaching for a loose ball
Lillard flicked the ball towards Gary Trent Jr. near the top of the key, then collapsed and grabbed his lower left leg. No defender was close to him.
“Just being honest, it’s not very promising,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said.
The injury came in Lillard’s third game back after deep vein thrombosis in his right calf kept him out for the final 14 regular-season games and the playoff opener.
Pacers pull away after Lillard exits
Indiana led 15-12 when Lillard left and scored 10 of the next 13 points. Milwaukee never got closer than five for the rest of the half.
The Pacers shot 60.2 percent for the game and 69.2 percent after half-time. Eight players reached double figures, led by Myles Turner with 23 and Andrew Nembhard with 20.
Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points and 15 assists.
Milwaukee faces elimination without its star guard
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 23 off the bench, but no other Bucks starter reached seven.
Milwaukee trailed 3-1 with Lillard’s status uncertain. An already difficult series had become secondary to concern over another serious setback for the nine-time All-Star.
