NBA Rumor: Damian Lillard Injury
124 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
Lillard is giving his all to be available and to keep faint championship aspirations alive in Portland, all while fighting a number of injuries. The 30-year-old has battled a left ankle injury, tender ribs, a lower abdomen strain, and knee soreness from continual screen clashes, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Jamie Hudson: Damian Lillard will make his return tonight. Blazers Injury Report: Derrick Jones Jr. (right hip, contusion) is probable and Zach Collins (left ankle, stress fracture) is out for tonight’s game vs. Denver.
Damian Lillard back today?
Chris Haynes: Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard (right hamstring tendinopathy) plans to return Wednesday against Denver Nuggets after missing last three games, league sources tell @YahooSports .
Damian Lillard out for Tuesday's game against Clippers
Damian Lillard remains out for Blazers
Casey Holdahl: Injury report: @Damian Lillard is OUT for Sunday’s game “right hamstring tendinopathy.” Second straight game he’ll miss after sitting out Friday’s win in San Antonio.
Damian Lillard out tonight with hamstring issue
Chris Haynes: Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard (knee contusion) will return today against the Toronto Raptors and Norman Powell will start over Derrick Jones Jr., league sources tell @YahooSports.
Lillard added that it was the same knee that he banged during the Blazers Feb. 16th game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. “It’s the same knee that I got kneed in against OKC and it had never stopped being sore from that game. So to get kneed on that same spot again, I knew that it would react like this and it would be swollen.”
Damian Lillard abdominal strain 'not serious'
Damian Lillard out tonight vs. 76ers
Justin Grasso: Damian Lillard is out tonight vs. #Sixers per @Casey Holdahl
Jamie Hudson: Blazers Injury Report: Damian Lillard (abdominal strain) and Derrick Jones Jr. (left foot sprain) are questionable. Nassir Little (left knee sprain) is out for Thursday’s game at Philadelphia.
Damian Lillard injury not serious
Stadium: Re-evaluation of Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard’s right knee confirmed a mild sprain, our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports.
Damian Lillard not expected to need knee surgery
Damian Lillard leaves Disney bubble
Jason Quick: Blazers announce Damian Lillard will leave the Orlando bubble Thursday to receive further examination on his injured right knee.
Damian Lillard unlikely to return these playoffs
Damian Lillard out for Game 5
Damian Lillard to undergo second MRI
An awful game for the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers became much worse in the third quarter when Damian Lillard left the court with a right knee injury. Lillard walked off under his own power. After the game, he underwent an MRI that turned out to be inconclusive, according to the Blazers. Lillard is scheduled to undergo another MRI on Tuesday.
Jay Allen: Terry Stotts says @Damian Lillard will play tonight, and probably wear a splint. Says Dame got to the arena early to test it out. #RipCity
Damian Lillard will play in Game 3
Chris Mannix: Terry Stotts says Damian Lillard will play tomorrow
Jamie Hudson: “He’s been getting multiple treatment throughout the day. I believe he’ll wear a splint… He’ll play.” Coach Stotts’ update on Lillard
Damian Lillard likely to play Game 3
Shams Charania: Initial signs are optimistic for Damian Lillard to play vs. Lakers in Game 3 on Saturday, per sources.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard offered a definitive answer on his status for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday after dislocating his left index finger. “I’m playing,” Lillard said.
Lillard left the court at the end of the third quarter to receive treatment and a splint on his left and middle index fingers. Though x-rays turned out negative, the Trail Blazers kept Lillard on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. “It’s just sore and a little bit tender,” said Lillard, who had 18 points on only 6-of-14 shooting. “A little bit sore, swollen and uncomfortable.”
Mark Medina: Terry Stotts said “it’s too early to say” if Damian Lillard will play in Game 3.
Damian Lillard ready to go for Blazers opener
Jay Allen: Terry Stotts says @Damian Lillard (left foot) is “ready to go” for tomorrow’s game vs. Memphis. #RipCity
Jay Allen: Terry Stotts says @Damian Lillard (sore left foot) will not play in today’s scrimmage against the #Thunder. @CJ McCollum is being given the day off. #Blazers #RipCity
But now, in the second of three scrimmage games, Portland will be without their point guard Damian Lillard, who is dealing with inflammation in his left foot. Stotts says Lillard had an x-ray on his left foot. The x-rays came back negative. From the sounds of it, it seems the inflammation is at the bottom of Lillard’s left foot. He did have an x-ray. The x-ray was negative. He just has some inflammation. I don’t expect it to be a long-term deal. Hopefully he’ll be able to play our last scrimmage. I think it’s a little bit on the bottom of his foot, but I’m not quite sure about that, but I think it is. — Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts
Chris Mannix: Terry Stotts says @Damian Lillard did everything at practice today. Was a non-contact practice. Stotts says Lillard status for tomorrow’s scrimmage is TBD.
Jamie Hudson: Coach Stotts says Lillard, who is sitting out today, did have an x-ray on his left foot. The x-rays came back negative. The inflammation on Lillard’s foot is at the bottom of his foot. Stotts expects Lillard to play in the team’s final scrimmage on Tuesday.
Casey Holdahl: Damian Lillard (right groin strain) is probable for Wednesday’s game vs. Wizards
Jason Quick: Source says Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard will make 3-game trip to Indiana, Atlanta and Orlando but is expected to miss “a couple more games” with right groin strain.
Damian Lillard on healing: [I have] nine full days [during the All-Star break]. A lot of treatment and a lot of time to try and figure it out and test it out. But the groin is nothing to play with, so I’m going to take my time and just try to do all the things I can do to give myself the best chance to be ready when we come back after the break. But if not, maybe miss one game after the break, or one or two more games.
Damian Lillard to miss at least three games
Damian Lillard out at least one week
Chris Haynes: Yahoo Sources: Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard underwent an MRI and it confirmed a groin strain with a 1-2 week recovery period.
Damian Lillard goes down
Chris Haynes: Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard suffered a right groin strain (grade 1-2) and is unlikely to participate in Sunday night’s All-Star Game, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
John Hollinger: Steph Curry and LeBron James both had groin strains last year. Curry missed 11 games, LeBron missed 17. Obviously degrees of strain matter here, and the week off with no games helps … but Blazers can’t really afford to lose Dame for very long.
Chris Haynes: Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard — who sat out last two games with back spasms — will return to action tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Casey Holdahl: Damian Lillard (back spasms) is probable for Saturday’s game vs. Cavs
Jason Quick: Thread on Damian Lillard back injury: He says he is hopeful to return Saturday at Cleveland. “I would be doing a disservice to my health if I just went out and played. It will stick around. Where we are now, the best thing is to get healthy, then we make our push,” he said.
Jason Quick: Blazers announce Damian Lillard will not play tonight in New Orleans because of back spasms
NBA rules require teams to announce whether a player is probable, questionable, doubtful or out by 5 p.m. the day before a game. Lillard’s injury was diagnosed Thursday night in Oakland, sources said, but it was not put on the injury report. It was reported by several media outlets after the game Saturday and confirmed by Lillard on Sunday.
It is long tradition in sports to keep certain injuries secret, especially in the playoffs, when opponents can potentially use the information against a team. “I wasn’t much aware of it,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said of Lillard’s injury, denying he knew the health status of his most important player. “I didn’t know how much it was bothering him until [Saturday].”
Damian Lillard playing hurt
Shams Charania: Portland Trail Blazers All-NBA star Damian Lillard has separated ribs and is playing through the injury, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium . Lillard shot 5-of-18 in Game 3 loss to Warriors.
Tim MacMahon: A source confirmed that Damian Lillard has a separated rib but downplayed the impact of the injury on his performance. “Not a story, he always plays through injuries.”
Joe Freeman: Terry Stotts says Damian Lillard (right knee soreness) will not play vs the Hawks.
Joe Freeman: Stotts says Lillard’s injury is not serious and he’ll “hopefully” miss just one game. After tonight, the Blazers play one game in 9 days.
Joe Freeman: Blazers injury update: Damian Lillard (right hand strain) is available and Moe Harkless (left knee soreness) is out tonight vs. Cleveland.
Rod Boone: Terry Stotts said Damian Lillard (left elbow sprain) will start tonight vs. #Hornets.
Joe Freeman: The Blazers list Damian Lillard (left elbow sprain) as questionable and Moe Harkless (left knee sorness) as out for the Blazers’ game vs. the Hornets on Friday.
Kerith Burke: Damian Jones has a left shoulder strain. He will not return.
Mark Medina: Warriors say Damian Jones has a Grade One MCL strain in his right knee. Warriors are listing him as day to day.
Jason Quick: “I feel pretty good about tonight” Lillard said, citing his sprained ankle history.
Jason Quick: Lillard just talked to trainers. He will play versus Spurs.
Jason Quick: Damian Lillard tells me his plan is to play Saturday in San Antonio. Says his left ankle sprain is feeling better.
Tim MacMahon: Portland coach Terry Stotts says Damian Lillard is “feeling better” but won’t play tonight against the Rockets. Stotts does expect Lillard to get some playing time before the playoffs.
Chris Haynes: ESPN Sources: Portland guard Damian Lillard (left ankle sprain) will officially be ruled out of tonight’s game at Houston.
Shams Charania: Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is day-to-day with left ankle injury and is expected to miss Thursday’s game in Houston, league sources tell Yahoo.
Star point guard Damian Lillard rolled his left ankle in the fourth quarter and later had to be carted from the locker room to the team bus following the Blazers’ 115-109 loss to the lowly Mavericks at American Airlines Center. With about five minutes left in Tuesday’s game, Lillard jumped to make a pass in the lane and landed on the foot of Dallas center Sal Mejri. His ankle rolled with all his weight on it. He played the final five minutes of the game with a slight hobble, but he said once the game ended, more pain and swelling rushed to the ankle.
The Blazers have four regular season games remaining before the playoffs begin April 14. Portland plays at Houston on Thursday, and Lillard said he will wait and see how the ankle responds. “I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I’m going to be smart about it,’’ Lillard said. “It’s the end of the season, we are going into the playoffs, so I have to be smart that one thing doesn’t turn into another.’’
Tim MacMahon: Portland PG Damian Lillard will play against the Rockets after missing the previous two games due to a calf strain, coach Terry Stotts said.
Jason Quick: Damian Lillard says he felt better today than he did last week before he returned against Atlanta. Went through extensive weight lifting Monday and thorough workout pregame. Says he doesnt want to speculate on playing vs. Houston.
Mike Richman: Blazers have ruled out Damian Lillard for Tuesday’s game vs. OKC. He will miss his second straight game with a right calf strain.
Jason Quick: Lillard was clearly disappointed in decision to hold him out vs. Spurs, but says he has learned to respect the health experts.
Jason Quick: Lillard says it is the right calf that is keeping him out. Says health & performance staff feels it is “smarter” to take it easy. Says he feels same as before Friday game vs. Atlanta, when he said he felt he made impact.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard will make his return Tuesday night on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell ESPN.
Although he was healthy enough, Portland (19-17) opted against playing Lillard in Monday night’s overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls so that he wouldn’t face a back-to-back set of games upon his return. The two-time NBA All-Star is averaging 25.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
Jason Quick: Lillard said he could go tonight at Chicago but decided to sit out because he doesn’t want to initiate his healing hamstring in a back-to-back scenario. Says “I plan to play” Tuesday in Cleveland.
Nick Friedell: Damian Lillard will not play tonight vs. Bulls. This is the fifth consecutive game he will miss because of a right hamstring strain.
Jason Quick: Blazers announce Lillard is out
Joe Freeman: Damian Lillard is OUT tonight vs the 76ers with his right hamstring ailment. It’s the third game in a row he will miss.
Mike Richman: Blazers now adding Damian Lillard to the injury report after he was removed from it yesterday. He is listed as questionable to play tonight vs. Philly.
Mike Richman: Terry Stotts said Lillard did not practice on Tuesday and was limited at practice today. Regardless, Lillard is set to return to the lineup Thursday after missing the last two games.
Jason Quick: Damian Lillard says his strained right hamstring is making “big progress.” Says he definitely will play in Blazers’ next game, Dec. 28 vs. Philadelphia
July 25, 2021 | 5:22 pm EDT Update
Ryan Ward: Team USA Basketball remains the favorite to win gold in Tokyo after today’s loss to France, according to @SportsBettingAG : USA -300, Australia +800, Spain +900, France +1100, Slovenia +1800, Italy +2500, Argentina +3300, Nigeria +4000
For something like a partial ACL tear, diagnosing that was important. What are the differences between knee sprains that affect the ACL ligament? DR. NGUYEN: So the grading scale is more of a guideline. Grade ones and grade threes are relatively straightforward in terms of treatment. The grade ones, usually non-operative, the grade threes are typically operative for elite athletes. Basketball players and soccer players, football players, are required to do a lot of cutting and pivoting.
The grade twos are where you kind of get into the gray zones. There are some patients where the instability that the patients feel, depend on how ACL dependent they are. There are people who have ACL tears and don’t feel any instability. There are people who have ACL tears, and they feel very unstable. So from a clinical perspective, you have to analyze how unstable their knee is objectively and subjectively. So if a patient says that their knee is unstable, even with a partial ACL tear, then typically they need surgery to stabilize that and reconstruct the ACL. But if they’re not clinically unstable, meaning that the knee feels stable, and they don’t have any symptoms from it, there are times where people can be treated non operatively, and rehab and play sports without any issues. So it really depends on the patient.
In such cases as Kawhi Leonard, he probably felt some instability, and they probably had some objective findings of instability, even with a partial ACL tear. Which is why they decided to do surgery. The question next, if you decide to do surgery, is what kind of surgery are you going to do?
Partial ACL tears can be categorized as tears in the anteromedial bundle, or tears in the posterolateral bundle. Those are the two main bundles that occur, that the ACL fiber has. And typically, the anteromedial bundle tears, but they can both tear. If the remaining fibers are competent, meaning that they’re stable and are strong enough to function like a normal ACL, then you could do a partial or single-bundle ACL reconstruction, where you just reconstruct or repair the bundle that’s torn. And those are different techniques that are involved in that. More often, however, the remaining bundle fibers are not competent and not functioning. So even with a partial ACL tear, the remaining fibers don’t work. And so you end up doing a full reconstruction like normal.
Now, when you say recover quicker: In a case like Kawhi, because his injury happened on June 14 and surgery on July 13, where would you realistically put a timetable on his return to play? It depends on the type of surgery that he had. If it was a full ACL reconstruction, you’re looking at the regular time period for recovery, which is typically 6-9 months. Sometimes up to a year. If it was a low-grade partial ACL tear, and they did an ACL repair or an ACL augmentation with an orthobiologic supplementation, then possibly the recovery could be quicker. Maybe even 3-6 months, as opposed to the nine months to a year timeline. But again, it depends on the type of procedure that was done, and what the original injury and severity of the original ACL tear was.
