MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has been cleared of a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and is off the blood-thinning medication used to help clear the issue, the team said Thursday.
While Lillard remains out for Game 1 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, his status for Game 2 is unclear. Per league sources, Lillard participated in a three-on-three session on Wednesday and in the team’s full practice on Thursday.
Lillard’s speedy recovery and clearance of a blood clot is unusual and one of the quickest returns the league has ever seen from a deep vein thrombosis issue. Lillard, 33, was diagnosed with the deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) in his right calf on March 25.
“The recovery is unpredictable and it’s all based on how long it takes for the blood clot to dissolve,” said Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, a cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Calif. “Depending on the person, the time it takes for the blood clot to resolve could be anywhere from three months to a year. I understand why teams would be like, ‘We can’t give a timeline.’ Because if I were the doctor, I would tell the teams, ‘I can’t give you a timeline.’”
Lillard, 33, missed the final 14 games of the regular season. He averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game in 58 games this season. Following Tuesday’s practice in Milwaukee, Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters the team remained optimistic Lillard might be able to return in the first round.
“We’re hopeful,” Rivers said when asked if there was a possibility of Lillard playing in the first round. “We’re just following the protocols, so we’ll see, but we don’t know yet.”
Lillard and the organization shared a great deal of optimism that the nine-time All-Star point guard would be able to return this season when he was first diagnosed because of how quickly they detected and diagnosed the blood clot, coupled with the early encouraging signs of the treatment’s effectiveness.
“We’re thrilled for Dame,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “Our priority has always been Dame’s health. We’re grateful to our medical team for diagnosing and treating his DVT at an early stage, and for the world-renowned hematology specialists at Mayo Clinic. Every step of Dame’s recovery has been at the direction of world-class medical professionals and their specific and strict protocols that have allowed for Dame’s safe and healthy return to play.”
The Bucks’ first-round series against the Pacers starts on Saturday in Indianapolis. The teams then get a two-day break before Game 2 on Tuesday. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, April 25 and Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, April 27. Games 3 and 4 will be in Milwaukee.
The Bucks went 10-4 in the final 14 regular-season games without Lillard. Milwaukee struggled early without Lillard, including a four-game losing streak. But after a couple of weeks, the Bucks found a groove and won their final eight regular-season games to secure the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. While they managed to win games without their point guard to close the season, the Bucks will likely need Lillard to make a deep playoff run.
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)