Milwaukee Bucks Face Nightmare Scenario With Damian Lillard Injury

There’s no official diagnosis yet for Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, but all the signs point to a nightmare scenario.

Lillard went down with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter while trying to corral an offensive rebound. Gary Trent Jr.’s three-point attempt came up short, bouncing toward the top of the key.

Lillard, stationed near the logo, planted on his left foot to go after the ball—and immediately crumpled to the floor, clutching at his left heel. He managed to grab the loose ball and toss it to Brook Lopez while sitting, but he never even attempted to stand.

As the Pacers pushed the ball in transition, the Bucks scrambled, forced into a four-on-five situation. They had to take a foul to stop play.

Kyle Kuzma helped Lillard to his feet, but it was the training staff who supported him off the court, Lillard draping his arms over their shoulders. He gingerly made his way to the locker room and did not return.

Milwaukee has yet to offer an official diagnosis, but the early reporting is grim.

Chris Haynes initially tweeted that the injury was “potentially severe,” later adding, “the fear is Bucks star Damian Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear.” ESPN’s Jamal Collier also reported that Lillard would undergo an MRI on Monday, noting that initial tests “indicated a possible Achilles tendon injury.”

Head coach Doc Rivers did little to ease the worry. After Milwaukee’s crushing 103-129 loss in Game 4—leaving them trailing 3-1 in the series—he told reporters, “Just being honest, it’s not very promising.”

Lillard didn’t speak to the media after the game. He left the arena on crutches, his left foot encased in a walking boot.

Monday’s MRI will confirm what everyone fears: whether Lillard has, in fact, torn his Achilles. If so, it’s not just the end of his postseason—it could very well sideline him for the entire 2025-26 season.

Lillard turns 35 this July. An Achilles tear at this stage of his career is devastating. Returning to elite form after such an injury is a mountain few have climbed, and for a player entering his mid-30s, the odds grow even longer.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard experiment—the pairing Bucks fans had dreamed of—never truly had a chance to take off. The two built chemistry throughout the season but never stepped into a single playoff game together at full strength.

Lillard’s injury now casts an enormous shadow over Milwaukee’s future.

His contract carries a $54.1 million cap hit next season, followed by a $58.5 million player option in 2026-27. Those numbers loom large over a roster facing even more uncertainty with Bobby Portis’ player option, Brook Lopez entering free agency, and a franchise desperately needing to figure out its next move.

The hard conversations about the Bucks’ future will come. For now, the organization—and its fanbase—are stuck in a state of disbelief.

What was supposed to be a championship chase has instead turned into heartbreak. Damian Lillard’s injury isn’t just a blow to Milwaukee’s playoff hopes—it’s a brutal twist in what was meant to be the next great era of Bucks basketball.

Sometimes, one moment changes everything. Sunday night felt like one of those moments.