The Indiana Pacers are on the brink of eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks for the second straight postseason, taking a 3-1 lead with a dominant 129-103 victory Sunday night. But despite their strong position, the focus after the game was on Damian Lillard’s devastating injury — and the sympathy that came from even the Pacers’ side.
Lillard suffered a non-contact injury feared to be a torn Achilles tendon. Though the full diagnosis is still pending, the injury looks serious and casts a dark cloud over Milwaukee’s playoff hopes.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who has had his own spirited rivalry with Lillard on the court, made it clear that any competitive fire ends at the buzzer. He offered his respect to Lillard after the game.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle also shared his sadness over the incident.
“I have such great respect for him,” Carlisle said, describing Lillard’s injury as “tragic,” according to Tony East of Sports Illustrated.
Lillard’s reputation across the league is one of resilience and loyalty. He famously stuck with the Portland Trail Blazers for years, embodying the “never running from the grind” mentality. His leadership and toughness are widely admired, making the sight of him limping off the court difficult for players, coaches, and fans alike.
Although medical advances have made Achilles injuries less career-threatening than they once were, it remains a daunting challenge — especially for smaller guards like Lillard.
Meanwhile, the Pacers remain focused. They’ll try to close out the series at home in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Without Lillard, the Bucks will need an extraordinary performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo to avoid elimination.