Damian Lillard suffers devastating Achilles injury in Game 4

In the United States, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard left the game after suffering a non-contact injury to his lower left leg midway through the first quarter. Lillard was helped off the court after immediately reaching for his left ankle when the injury occurred. It was later confirmed by an MRI that he had a torn left Achilles tendon, bringing his season to an abrupt end. This unfortunate event followed a prior struggle with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, which had already sidelined him for a significant portion of the regular season. The Bucks were trailing the Indiana Pacers 2-1 in the series at the time of Lillard’s injury, and without their star player, they lost the game 129-103, leaving them in a precarious position of facing elimination in the impending Game 5. The Pacers shot an impressive 60.2% from the field during the game, and Myles Turner led his team with 23 points. Coach Doc Rivers expressed his deep concern for Lillard, lamenting the unfortunate circumstances that have affected his career and emphasizing the emotional impact of the injury on the team. This injury not only affects Lillard personally but also has serious implications for the Milwaukee Bucks' postseason hopes and the future dynamics of their roster. Lillard had been experiencing a career resurgence after overcoming previous injury setbacks, making his Achilles injury particularly devastating for both him and the franchise as they navigated through these playoffs. As the disappointment of this injury settles in, the Bucks must regroup as they prepare to face an uphill battle against the Pacers without their key player in subsequent matches.