By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Bucks can’t catch a break. Milwaukee’s star Damian Lillard exited in the first quarter of the 129-103 Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers because of a left lower leg injury.
The preliminary examination of Lillard indicated a possible Achilles tendon injury, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
“Just being honest, it’s not very promising,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said postgame.
Lillard had missed the team’s final 14 regular-season games because of deep vein thrombosis in his right leg. He returned in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Pacers after a month out of action.
Myles Turner (photo) scored 23 points and the Pacers shot 60.2% and it was an easy home win for Indiana.
“Once he kind of looked back, I think we all kind of knew what it was,” Turner said. “It’s a weird feeling to describe because you have to still compete, you have to get out there, but you just never want to see that happen to another athlete who puts in as much time as he does to his craft and to his game, like we all do.
The Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists before sitting out with 4:44 left and the Bucks trailing 120-98. Kevin Porter Jr. added 23 points for the Bucks.
In Orlando, Jayson Tatum had 37 points and 14 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 21 points and 11 rebounds and the Boston Celtics took a 3-1 lead in their NBA playoff series with a 107-98 win over the Magic.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points, including a dunk of his own missed layup that put Boston ahead for keeps with 3:58 left.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 31 points. German swingman Franz Wagner had 24 points and seven assists for Orlando.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 3-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 3-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 3-1 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 3-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 1-2 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 2-2 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99)