Giannis, Bucks Ripped By NBA Fans for G2 Loss to Haliburton, Pacers in Dame's Return
The Milwaukee Bucks nearly overcame a 15-point fourth quarter deficit but ultimately fell short to the host Indiana Pacers, 123-115, in Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference first round playoff series on Tuesday evening.
Milwaukee welcomed back nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who had been out since March 18 with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
Lillard impressively played 37 minutes and notably hit a huge three with 2:33 left in regulation to cut the Pacer lead to 115-113.
However, the Pacers responded with threes from Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard for a 121-113 edge, and Indiana could exhale from there.
For the second straight game, the Bucks dug themselves into a hole and couldn't climb back out. Milwaukee gave up 40 first-quarter points and trailed 112-97 with 6:20 remaining in the game.
The Bucks caught fire from there thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo (34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists) and Bobby Portis (28 points, 12 rebounds). Lillard's three also certainly helped.
But the Bucks' defense could not slow Indiana down for the second straight game. The Pacers' stars led the way Tuesday. Pascal Siakam posted 24 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, while Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and 12 assists.
Indiana also made all 19 of its free throws and shot 44.4 percent from three. Six Pacers scored 14 or more points.
Ultimately, this has been a tough start to the series for the Bucks, who trail 2-0 despite a pair of tremendous Antetokounmpo performances.
The Bucks have led for just one minute and 43 seconds over the two games and not at all since the first quarter of Game 1.
Their fourth-quarter surge is certainly encouraging. And even though Lillard didn't have his best evening (14 points, 4-of-13 shooting), having him back is a huge win, and he certainly shake off some rust after being out for a month.
This is still a rough beginning to the series, though, and fans noted the Bucks' struggles.
Game 3 will go down on Friday at 8 p.m. ET from Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum.
Damian Lillard Cleared to Return from Blood Clot for Bucks vs. Pacers Game 2
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard will officially return from a blood clot in his calf for Tuesday night's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Lillard's health was a major focal point for the Bucks entering the playoffs, as his final regular-season game came on March 18. He missed the rest of the regular season because of deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
Milwaukee released an update on April 15 ahead of its first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, revealing he would miss the start of the postseason.
"Damian's most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity," general manager Jon Horst said. "Damian's health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian's progress."
Charania reported on the same day that there was "optimism for his clearance at some point in the playoffs."
While the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo as their go-to option, Lillard is their second-leading scorer. He averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from deep during the regular season.
His presence and ability to stretch the floor creates better driving lanes for Antetokounmpo and others, and he has also made a habit of taking over games in crunch time throughout his career.
The Bucks are far more dangerous with Lillard on the court. They will need him to hit the ground running after they suffered a blowout Game 1 loss without him on Saturday.
Giannis Says Bucks 'Didn't Have Enough Urgency' in Game 1 NBA Playoff Loss to Pacers
Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn't satisfied with the Milwaukee Bucks' effort during a lopsided 117-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series.
"I think we were late, like we got into scrambling mode and they would create for the next guy and that's what they want you to do," Antetokounmpo said, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "We didn't have enough urgency. Going into Game 2, hopefully we can change that."
Indiana set the tone early on Saturday, taking an 11-point lead with just over two minutes left in the first quarter. The Bucks cut the deficit to seven points with roughly nine minutes remaining in the second, but the Pacers closed the half on a 26-9 run and never looked back.
Indiana had success with pushing the ball up the floor, scoring 22 points in transition compared to just five transition points for Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo still recorded a double-double, finishing with 36 points and 12 rebounds on 14-of-23 shooting. He also added two blocks and one steal.
It's worth noting that the Bucks were without star point guard Damian Lillard, who was ruled out of the contest due to reconditioning. Lillard missed Milwaukee's final 14 regular-season games due to blood clots but is expected to return in Game 2 or Game 3.
Regardless of his availability, Antetokounmpo still wants to see the Bucks play with more urgency moving forward.
Doc Rivers, Bucks Criticized by Fans in G1 Rout by Pacers Despite Giannis' 36 Points
The Indiana Pacers demolished the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98 in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Saturday.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting and 12 rebounds, but the rest of the starters—Kyle Kuzma, Brook Lopez, Taurean Prince and Ryan Rollins—combined for 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting.
Kuzma in particular struggled, going scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting and failing to amass any other statistic outside two personal fouls.
The starters' performances minus Antetokounmpo ultimately set the tone for a game where Indiana held a 67-43 halftime edge and once led by 28 points.
Indiana also featured six players scoring in double digits, with Pascal Siakam's 25 points leading the way alongside a well-rounded game from Tyrese Haliburton (10 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds).
The Milwaukee bench fared far better, with AJ Green (15 points), Gary Trent Jr. (14 points), Kevin Porter Jr. (12 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Bobby Portis (four points but eight rebounds) all playing well.
That led to fans questioning head coach Doc Rivers regarding his lineup choices. All four starters minus Antetokounmpo, despite their struggles, played between 19-22 minutes. By the time the Bucks turned to their reserves in the second half, it was too little and too late.
Of course, the Bucks began this series significantly shorthanded with nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard recovering from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Lillard is expected back in Game 2 or 3.
But fans were left wondering what might have been had Rivers made different lineup choices Saturday, with some others lamenting him on the sidelines.
Indiana will now host Milwaukee for Game 2 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
Bucks' Damian Lillard Talks 'Scary' Blood Clot Diagnosis amid Recovery Before Playoffs
Milwaukee Bucks star point guard Damian Lillard detailed his blood clot diagnosis on Friday.
“It was a little bit scary,” Lillard said, per Eric Nehm and Zach Powell of The Athletic. “I think I’ve had a couple of surgeries in my career. I’ve had things I’ve had to deal with, you know, with an ankle or a knee, Achilles, calf, whatever it might be. But those are all things that you go to rehab, you deal with it like that, like an athlete would."
“I’m thinking that’s what I was going into, and then you see a blood clot," he added. "Obviously, that’s a thing that can affect your life.”
Lillard was ruled out indefinitely after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf on March 25, putting his status for the playoffs in jeopardy.
The Bucks announced Wednesday that the deep vein thrombosis had resolved and he was cleared for full basketball activity, though.
Lillard revealed that he wasn't concerned about his playoff future following the diagnosis, as he was worried about how it could potentially affect his life off the court instead.
“Honestly, when I say I was scared, I was really nervous about it, based off of a past experience,” Lillard explained, via Nehm and Powell, “So I wasn’t really thinking about, ‘Oh, I need to get back out there for the playoffs.’ I was just like each time I went back to the hospital, I wanted to hear that it’s gone or it’s smaller or it’s in the same spot, so that was more of my focus.”
He missed the Bucks' final 14 regular-season games, although they were still able to compile a 10-4 record without him and clinch the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a 48-34 overall record.
Lillard put together a strong second season in Milwaukee prior to his absence to end the year, averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game on 44.8/37.6/92.1 shooting splits.
He was selected as an All-Star for the ninth time in his career.
Lillard has been ruled out for Game 1 of the Bucks' upcoming first-round clash with the Indiana Pacers, but he could return to the floor before the series comes to a close.
His potential presence on the court could help Milwaukee win its first playoff series since 2022.
Bucks' Damian Lillard to Miss Start of 2025 NBA Playoffs amid Blood Clot Recovery
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard will miss the start of the 2025 NBA playoffs, the team announced.
Milwaukee opens its first-round series with the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that team is optimistic Lillard can suit up "at some point" this postseason.
The 34-year-old was shut down indefinitely in late March after he was diagnosed with blood clots in his right calf, though Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported at the time that "a league source [said] that there is a great deal of optimism that he will return this season."
"It's unfortunate that something outside of my control would come up," he said through a spokesman. "Along with the Bucks' medical staff, our priorities are to protect my health and safety. As much as I love basketball, I need to be there for my kids and my family. I'm grateful the Bucks acted quickly on this. They've been supportive and proactive throughout this process. I look forward to moving past this and continuing my career."
Lillard was averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game at the time of the diagnosis, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three. While the Bucks struggled to keep pace with the top teams in the Eastern Conference from a record perspective, the hope was that they could make a deep run in the playoffs.
Time will tell if that is still on the table.
NBA Playoff Picture 2025: Updated Bracket, Standings After Bucks Clinch Spot
For the ninth straight year, the Milwaukee Bucks have earned a trip to the postseason.
The Bucks clinched a playoff berth on Saturday following the Atlanta Hawks' 121-105 loss to the New York Knicks, giving Giannis Antetokounmpo and company the opportunity to chase an NBA championship.
Now that Milwaukee is the 10th team in the Eastern Conference to solidify its postseason spot, here's a look at the updated standings as the playoffs draw nearer.
Eastern Conference Standings
- Cleveland Cavaliers, 62-15; clinched Central Division
- Boston Celtics, 57-20; clinched Atlantic Division
- New York Knicks, 49-28; clinched playoff
- Indiana Pacers, 46-31; clinched playoff
- Detroit Pistons, 43-34; clinched playoff
- Milwaukee Bucks, 42-34; cleaned postseason
- Orlando Magic, 38-40; clinched play-in
- Atlanta Hawks, 36-41; clinched postseason
- Chicago Bulls, 35-42; clinched play-in
- Miami Heat, 35-42; clinched play-in
Western Conference Standings
- Oklahoma City Thunder, 64-13; clinched Western Conference
- Houston Rockets, 51-27; clinched Southwest Division
- Los Angeles Lakers, 47-30; clinched postseason
- Denver Nuggets, 47-31; clinched postseason
- Golden State Warriors, 46-31; clinched postseason
- Minnesota Timberwolves, 45-32; clinched postseason
- Los Angeles Clippers, 45-32; clinched postseason
- Memphis Grizzlies, 45-32; clinched postseason
- Dallas Mavericks, 38-40
- Sacramento Kings, 37-40
The Bucks had to overcome some early inconsistencies that raised some questions about their status as title contenders. After starting the season with a 2-8 record, Milwaukee found its stride with 12 wins in its next 15 outings on its way to defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA In-Season Tournament championship.
Antetokounmpo has put together another MVP-caliber season with averages of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game heading into Saturday. His running mate Damian Lillard was also thriving in his second year with the team, averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists, before he was sidelined in March by a blood clot issue.
The Bucks shook up the roster in the middle of the season by sending veteran forward Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline in exchange for Kyle Kuzma. It didn't take long for the newcomer to develop chemistry with his teammates, as Kuzma became a solid contributor by averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists through his first 27 games in Milwaukee.
Still, the Bucks' chances of making a deep playoff run will rest on the shoulders of Antetokounmpo and Lillard. Both stars missed time during last year's postseason, leading to Milwaukee's quick exit in the first round against the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks will be looking to earn their second NBA championship in the last five years, so it will be exciting to watch Antetokounmpo and hopefully Lillard try to lead the team back to the mountaintop.
Bucks' Rivers Says 'Much More Hope' Damian Lillard Returns from Blood Clot This Season
There's "much more hope" that Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard can return this season from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, which has kept him out since March 18.
Head coach Doc Rivers delivered that news to reporters Thursday before his team's road win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
"He had a great report the other day. I think we even released that, I don't know if we did or not, but the numbers are phenomenal, and why mess with it?
"Our thing is, flying or anything could affect that. And so our thing was...we have much more hope today than we did three days ago, I can tell you that, and so we're gonna take everything that we can do to see if there's a way we can get him back."
Lillard has averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists this season.
Obviously, getting Lillard back this season would be a massive win for the team. Without Lillard, any chance the Bucks have of making a deep playoff run is remote at best, even with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way.
Milwaukee is already facing an uphill battle on that front, with the team sitting tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference led by two powerhouses in the first place Cleveland Cavaliers and the second place Boston Celtics, the defending NBA champions.
The Bucks haven't officially clinched the playoffs yet, but that's a mere formality with the team's magic number at just one with six games left. In simplest form, Milwaukee needs just one win in its final six games to get its spot.
As far as timing goes, the playoffs will start either April 19 or 20 for the Bucks. That doesn't give Lillard much time to return to the mix, although the optimism Rivers expressed certainly brings hope he could do so.
In the interim, the Bucks are rolling with Ryan Rollins as a starting guard. The 22-year-old has notably fared well of late, averaging 16.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.
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