MILWAUKEE — Damian Lillard took a small step forward Wednesday in his bid to be ready for the start of the Milwaukee Bucks’ Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Lillard got back on the practice floor and did some shooting and “all of the walk-through stuff.”
Lillard hadn’t practiced on Tuesday after a sore left adductor bothered him the final weekend of the regular season.
The Bucks have Thursday off as they get ready for Sunday’s Game 1 at Milwaukee. Rivers expressed optimism that Lillard would be able to practice more fully on Friday.
Rivers did note that he also had expected the seven-time All-NBA guard to practice Tuesday, before medical staff decided against it.
“I’m assuming,” Rivers said. “I would be surprised [if he doesn’t practice]. I’ll put it that way.”
Lillard sat out a loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday due to the injury. He returned two days later but shot just 2-of-14 from the floor when the Bucks ended the regular season with a loss at the Orlando Magic.
The Bucks could be needing Lillard more than ever because of the likelihood that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be ready for the start of the Pacers series. Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks’ last three regular-season games, and he hasn’t practiced this week due to a left calf strain, though the Bucks haven’t given any updates about his potential availability for the playoffs.
Reserve guard AJ Green also hasn’t practiced this week because of a sprained left ankle that caused him to sit out the Bucks’ final two regular-season games.
The Bucks went 1-8 in the nine games Lillard missed during the regular season.
