The Milwaukee Bucks officially announced that the team's core guard Damian Lillard was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon after undergoing an MRI on Monday.

The injury caused Lillard to bid farewell to the playoffs this season and may even affect his return timetable for next season. Lillard was injured in the fourth game of the Milwaukee Bucks' series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

When Lillard tried to pass the ball to his teammate with his left hand in the middle of the first quarter, he suddenly fell to the ground and hugged his left calf, unable to stand on his own, and was eventually helped off the court. The team's coach Doc Rivers said after the game: "This is really difficult. The blood clot has just recovered, and this situation has occurred again. Lillard is not only an excellent player, but also a great teammate and father."

In fact, Lillard had just returned from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right calf, which was the reason why he missed the last 14 games of the regular season. Lillard stopped taking medication after the regular season and was allowed to resume training, actively preparing for his return to the playoffs. After his comeback, Lillard missed the first game against the Indiana Pacers and returned in the second game.

This season, the 34-year-old Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game, ranking 10th in the league, and was selected to the All-Star Game for the 10th time. Lillard overcame the problem of blood clots in a very short time, but now he has suffered another major blow.

In 2022, Khris Middleton missed the game due to ligament injury, and in 2023, Giannis Antetokounmpo was affected by a back injury. In last year's playoffs, Antetokounmpo and Lillard also missed the game due to injuries. In the end, the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated in the first round for two consecutive years. Now, facing the Indiana Pacers 1-3 behind, the team without Lillard has a more severe prospect.