Bucks get bad news on Damian Lillard’s injury ahead of Game 4

The Bucks likely received a worst-case update on Damian Lillard’s injury.

On Saturday, it was revealed that the star suffered a strained Achilles and is currently in a walking boot, according to The Athletic.

His availability for Game 4 against the Pacers in Indiana on Sunday is in serious doubt.

In Game 3 on Friday, the Pacers eventually won in a 121-118 overtime thriller to gain a 2-1 series lead.

Lillard left the game temporarily due to the injury in the first quarter.

He went to the locker room for a short time before returning to the game early in the second quarter.

“Honestly, Dame was really struggling,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “In the overtime, he literally said, ‘I’ll be the decoy. I just can’t go as far as explosion.’ So, I thought Dame just being out there was huge for us.”

The eight-time All-Star still scored 28 points in Game 3, but the Pacers’ defense kept him limited to just 6-for-20 shooting from the field.

After the loss, Rivers suspected it was Lillard’s Achilles, as it was a previous issue during the Bucks’ final regular season game against the Magic on April 14.

Lillard missed practices leading up to the playoffs, which was a big scare for the team after there were already big concerns with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been absent due to a calf strain.

Rivers told reporters that Antetokounmpo was going to work out on Sunday and “going to go hard early and then we’re going to make a decision.”

He didn’t sound hopeful of the former MVP suiting up for Game 4, however.

“I doubt it,” Rivers said. “But we’ll see.”

Lillard has averaged 24.3 points per game this season for the Bucks and point guard AJ Green may see some more minutes in his absence.

Green has played in 56 games, averaging 4.5 points and 11 minutes per game.