MILWAUKEE (AP) – Damian Lillard took a small step forward on Wednesday in his bid to be ready for the start of the Milwaukee Bucks’ Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Lillard got back on the practice floor and did some shooting and “all of the walk-through stuff”. Lillard hadn’t practised on Tuesday after a sore left adductor bothered him the final weekend of the regular season.
The Bucks have the day off as they get ready for Game 1 of their playoff series on Sunday at Milwaukee. Rivers expressed optimism that Lillard would be able to practise more fully.
Rivers did note that he also had expected the seven-time all-NBA guard to practise on Tuesday before medical staff decided against it. Lillard sat out a loss at Oklahoma City due to the injury. He returned two days later, but shot just two of 14 from the floor when the Bucks ended the regular season with a loss at Orlando.
The Bucks could be needing Lillard more than ever because of the likelihood that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be ready for the start of the series. Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks’ last three regular-season games and hasn’t practised this week due to a left calf strain, though the Bucks haven’t given any updates about his potential availability for the playoffs.
The Bucks went 1-8 in the nine games Lillard missed during the regular season.
