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

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.

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."

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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) 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' 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)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)