The Milwaukee Bucks took on a heated battle against the New Orleans Pelicans. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. seeded 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 46-26 record before the game looked to hold on to their spot by triumphing tonight. Unfortunately, they were dominated by the Pelicans all night. Milwaukee’s chances of winning got even slimmer as their All-Star guard Damian Lillard left mid-way during the game.

Lillard got subbed out of the game midway through the third quarter while the Bucks were down 13 points. He headed straight to the locker room and did not play for the remainder of the quarter. It was not clear why Lillard left, but the Bucks fans worried about a possible injury. Lillard played 24 minutes and scored 10 points before heading out.

Dame was having an off-night even before he left the game. He scored only 10 points through three quarters, shooting an abysmal 4 of 11 from the field. It is possible that Lillard’s form was bothered by an injury he suffered during the end of the first half. Lillard seemingly hurt his left leg during the final play of the second quarter. While the Pelicans were celebrating a buzzer-beater from Larry Nance Jr., Lillard clutched his leg in pain and limped off the court.

The 8-time All-Star might have headed to the locker room in the third quarter to address the same injury. The Bucks would hope Lillard’s injury is not too serious, considering his crucial presence so close to the playoffs.

The Milwaukee Bucks lose despite Damian Lillard’s return

Although Damian Lillard did not play for the rest of the third quarter, he returned to the Bucks bench minutes before the quarter ended. As the Bucks trailed by 12 points heading into the 4th quarter, Dame returned to the floor to finish the game. The Bucks fans were happy to see their All-Star back on the court. Unfortunately, Dame’s 4th quarter return was not enough to save the Bucks from losing to the Pelicans. The 12-point deficit proved too much for Milwaukee to overcome, and they lost the game 107-100.

Lillard’s shooting spell did not get any better after he returned from the locker room. He finished with only 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Giannis tried his best to get the Bucks a win, scoring 35 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists, but to no avail. Milwaukee’s record worsened to 46-27 after tonight’s loss. As New York and Cleveland threaten to take Milwaukee’s 2nd spot, the Bucks need their stars healthy to finish the season strong.

Read More: Doc Rivers Shockingly Snubs Damian Lillard for Warriors Star 7 Years After Parting Ways

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