Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Damian Lillard returns from month-long absence, has mixed results in Bucks 123-115 loss to Pacers

Sport

Damian Lillard returns from month-long absence, has mixed results in Bucks 123-115 loss to Pacers
Sport

Sport

Damian Lillard returns from month-long absence, has mixed results in Bucks 123-115 loss to Pacers

2025-04-23 12:09 Last Updated At:12:12

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — All-Star guard Damian Lillard wanted to give the Milwaukee Bucks a lift Tuesday night.

So he called coach Doc Rivers in the morning and told him he would return for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series after missing the past month because of a health scare. Rivers didn't argue with his team down 1-0.

More Images
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives on Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives on Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) makes a pass between Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and forward Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) makes a pass between Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and forward Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walk to the bench during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walk to the bench during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) gestures after a three-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) gestures after a three-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard shoots a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, March 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard shoots a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, March 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)

Lillard gave it everything he could in Indianapolis, finishing with 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting while playing 37 minutes in a 123-115 in a Game 2 loss.

“It felt pretty good given the fact that I haven’t played in so long," Lillard said. “Jumping back into a playoff game, I’d say it felt pretty good. I felt pretty solid.”

Clearly, he wasn't himself after battling deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He only practice three times since last playing March 18 and couldn't even do much cardio work to stay in game shape.

It showed.

While there were flashes of his pre-absence play, such as the 3 he made with 2:31 left to get the Bucks within 115-113, his explosiveness was not there. And he appeared to wear down in the second half when he was 1 of 7 from the field and 1 of 6 on 3s.

“I got a little winded, but I think everyone got a little winded,” Lillard said. "I wasn’t really thinking about if I was tired, it was just like I’m out here and I’ve got to do what I got to do.”

Just getting back on the court this quickly was a major victory for Lillard, though.

The blood-clotting disorder usually keeps players out months, not weeks, something Rivers feared may happen after learning the ailment was more serious than the initial diagnoses.

Lillard even opted to take a little extra time to get his body back in shape for the rigors of the postseason.

Still, Rivers and Lillard said they would both be monitoring his health during the game and Rivers told reporters before the game he would pull Lillard out if he noticed fatigue. But when the Bucks needed a late push to get within striking distance of evening the series, Rivers thought it was better to keep his nine-time All-Star on the court.

That led to some late-game jawing between Lillard and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton as the Bucks lost for the fifth time in their last six postseason games against Indiana.

“Down the stretch I just kept him in, I used it sort of as conditioning,” Rivers said. “He was exhausted and I saw that, and I thought just let him blow it because we've got two days to recover. That's basically why I kept him in.”

Game 3 is Friday in Milwaukee, and the Bucks certainly could use Lillard's help — if he can be as effective as he was before being held out.

Lillard averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 35.5% overall and 38.9% from 3-point range in four regular-season games against Indiana this season. In last year's first-round series, he averaged 31.3 points against the Pacers, who won the series 4-2.

Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo missed all six of those games with a a calf injury but scored 36 points and had 12 rebounds in Game 1 and followed that with 34 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists. It was the first playoff game Antetokounmpo and Lillard played together.

Now comes what could prove the harder part — protect their home court, clawing their way back into the series and avoiding a third straight first-round exit without knowing whether Lillard will be ready to play in Game 3.

“The biggest question for us is the recovery,” Rivers said. “The trick is trying not to get him into that point of exhaustion because then it's hard to come back. So that's the trick we were doing tonight."

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives on Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives on Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) makes a pass between Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and forward Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) makes a pass between Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and forward Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walk to the bench during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) walk to the bench during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) gestures after a three-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) gestures after a three-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard shoots a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, March 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard shoots a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, March 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday he will run in next month’s presidential election and would seek to lessen the powers of the office and ease strife-ridden domestic politics if he wins.

Han’s entry heats up the scramble among conservatives to unify behind a candidate to compete with liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung, whose campaign recently was set back by a court decision to open a new trial on election law violation charges.

“I’ve determined to find what I can do for the future of the Republic of Korea that I love and for all of us. I’ll try my utmost to be chosen by the people at this presidential election," Han told a press conference at the National Assembly.

South Korea is holding an early presidential election on June 3 after conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted over his imposition of martial law. Han was appointed prime minister, the No. 2 post, by Yoon, and he served as acting leader after Yoon was suspended and later removed from office.

Han also was prime minister under liberal President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008 and has served as trade minister, finance minister and ambassador to the U.S. during his 40-year career in public service. He has never held elected office but has risen politically as the main conservative People Power Party struggles in the wake of Yoon’s ouster.

Han does not belong to a political party, but contenders in the PPP have said they are willing to field a single candidate among them and Han. PPP members are scheduled to nominate their party's candidate Saturday.

Han said that if elected, he would launch a body to amend the constitution so the president and the assembly share powers based on the principle of checks and balances. His revisions would also bar the political circle and the judiciary branch from meddling in each other's sectors.

In South Korea, executive power is heavily concentrated on a president, and there have been calls for change.

The election June 3 will give the new president a full, single five-year term. But Han said he would serve three years to finish the constitutional revision and then leave.

Han said he would also use his expertise on economic affairs to resolve trade issues with the U.S. over President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Lee's main liberal opposition Democratic Party stepped up its offensive against Han, saying he is abandoning his duties as the government's caretaker and lacks the moral standing to run for the presidency as a No. 2 official in the Yoon administration, responsible for many policy failures.

“We warn to former Prime Minister Han. Don't hide your greed with a lie that you are running for the people,” party spokesperson Noh Jongmyun said.

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo bows after a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo bows after a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrives to hold a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrives to hold a press conference to announce a presidential bid at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Recommended Articles
Hot · Posts