The Milwaukee Bucks are almost two weeks removed from hoisting the NBA Cup after a poor start to their season. The tides appear to have changed, considering Milwaukee has jumped up the standings and is now playing above .500 basketball. Since their win in Las Vegas, Damian Lillard has been out for the Bucks due to a calf injury. However, good news broke before the Bucks visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night: Lillard will be back.
Bucks Injury Update Provides Good News on Returning Star
Damian Lillard Rejoins Bucks After Injury Caused Absence
Milwaukee has gone 2-2 since their NBA Cup victory, with Lillard absent from all four contests. His calf issues were a reason, but he also had an illness. As reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes, he will return to the lineup against the Bulls.Getting Lillard back will be a boost, as the Bucks have dropped two of their last four games. The loss to the Brooklyn Nets was more jarring than the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nevertheless, the Bucks have a run ahead of them that should net several wins, furthering their spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
After their matchup with the Bulls on Saturday, Milwaukee plays Indiana, Brooklyn, Portland, Toronto, San Antonio, and Orlando. It’s a stretch that includes all winnable games. Although, the Spurs are the likeliest of the bunch to give the Bucks the most trouble. Lillard’s return will provide a kick to the Bucks offense as the team continues to ease Khris Middleton back into the mix. Regarding Lillard’s absence, it included an oddity, one which he admitted to being a rarity in his life but sounded like a rough trek.
“I’ve never been that sick before in my entire life,” Lillard said. “I wasn’t throwing up, nothing. I just didn’t eat for two days. I didn’t eat at all. I didn’t get up, nothing. I was down. It was bad. Couple days ago, I tried to work out – the night before the Brooklyn game, because I wanted to play against Brooklyn – but I mean, the whole time I was working out, it just kept making me cough, coughing up s–t. I got through the workout, but I couldn’t breathe good…I lost a couple pounds. I mean, if you don’t eat for two days. And I was just trying to at least stay hydrated…I didn’t have no food in me, it was just all liquid, so obviously I dropped some weight.”
Keeping the Roll Going
The fact that Milwaukee has managed to climb to the fifth seed in the East is slightly shocking. It wasn’t long ago they looked dead in the water. The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to replicate that very same climb. Winning the NBA Cup had to have inserted a jolt of confidence and belief within the Bucks locker room—a jolt that will hopefully carry them through the rest of the season. They look like an entirely different team, and it’s been heavily aided by Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo figuring out how to play complimentary basketball with one another.
Unless they begin to crater again, expect Milwaukee to keep on rolling. Middleton’s return has provided even more reason to believe in the Bucks. He is averaging just over 12 points a contest in eight games. He continues to look better with each game, and his minutes, as are his points per game, are slowly increasing. As he gets better, the Bucks should follow suit. With Lillard returning from his absence, this could start a run where Lillard, Giannis, and Middleton together can propel the Bucks to where expectations have them to be.
