Damian Lillard will return for Game 6

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Tyrese Haliburton tweeted the same thing about Pat Bev after eliminating the Bucks as Dame did last season 👀
Earlier in the series, Pat Bev was asked about Haliburton and said if he gave someone the ball for 41 minutes, they would also have 10 assists. pic.twitter.com/0Hdh5bJhJg – 10:33 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Here is what Damian Lillard said about the process of suiting up for Game 6 tonight: pic.twitter.com/TYhwZtlOoi – 10:27 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Dame’s first season as a Buck:
— 24.3 PPG
— 7.0 APG
— 42/35/92%
— All-Star starter
The 2nd highest scoring season ever by a Bucks guard. statmuse.com/nba/player/dam… – 9:06 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
The Milwaukee Bucks have three players that lead a franchise in all-time scoring:
Brook Lopez (Nets)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
Knocked out in Round 1. pic.twitter.com/DvrWwkcYsZ – 9:01 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Much respect to Dame. 28 points in 35 minutes with an Achilles issue is crazy. – 9:01 PM

Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Jrue Holiday was the real winner of the Lillard trade – 9:01 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
FINAL: Pacers 120, Bucks 98
– Lillard 28pts/4ast
– Portis 20pts/15reb/2ast
– Lopez 20pts/5reb
– Middleton 14pts/8reb/3ast
Pacers 4, Bucks 2.
The 2023-24 season is over for the Milwaukee Bucks. – 9:00 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Guard battle tonight:
Dame — McConnell —
28 PTS 20 PTS
4 AST (3 TOV) 9 AST (1 TOV)
0 STL 4 STL
7-16 FG 7-9 FG pic.twitter.com/eKkDbOykpA – 8:57 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Fun fact: Damian Lillard is the all-time leader in playoff PPG for the Bucks. pic.twitter.com/L2Gd37QlFp – 8:55 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Guard battle tonight:
Dame — McConnell —
28 PTS 20 PTS
4 AST (3 TOV) 8 AST (1 TOV)
0 STL 4 STL
7-16 FG 7-9 FG pic.twitter.com/7Rl27DUGql – 8:53 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Haliburton against the Bucks this season:
— 4-1 in the regular season
— Knocked them out of IST
— Dame time celebration on Dame
— Called out their home crowd
— Game 3 game-winner
And knocked them out of the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/3c5qgRsSn0 – 8:51 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
And just like that, two teams that swung blockbuster offseason moves — Bucks w/Dame and Suns w/Beal — are knocked out of the first round. – 8:46 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Bucks fans are gonna hate this, but I’d probably try to trade Khris Middleton for perimeter defense this summer.
He’s coming off a great series. His value will never be higher. You trust Giannis and Dame to handle the offense. You have no chance next year with this POA defense.… – 8:42 PM

Dave Early @DavidEarly
TJ just sizing up Dame now pic.twitter.com/UV09munVXd – 8:36 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Since I’ve been killing Tony Brothers, that was a good call on the Siakam pushoff. Totally unnecessary to get his arm up in Lillard’s neck, he had that pass easily. – 8:34 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Props to Damian Lillard. He was doubtful to play this morning and has played 30mins on a bad Achilles. And is leading the Bucks with 21pts. Not sure how he’s doing it. – 8:34 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
I appreciate Lillard giving it a go but I don’t think he’s been able to help the Bucks tonight. – 8:32 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers ahead 59-47 at the break. Lopez has 14pts and Turner finished the half on the bench with three fouls.
They’re perfect at the line (11/11). Several Pacers in foul trouble. Good bench minutes from Toppin, TJM.
Bucks just 2/13 from 3. Lillard scored 14pts in 19mins. – 7:39 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Half: Pacers 59, Bucks 47
– Lopez 14pts/5reb
– Lillard 14pts/2reb/2ast
– Portis 9pts/8reb
– Middleton 7pts/5reb/2ast – 7:39 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
That was a pretty good scramble by the Bucks following that turnover, but it still ended with a bucket for Nesmith. Pacers up, 42-34, with 8:20 left in the first half.
Lillard leads the Bucks with 12 points. Lopez close behind with 9 points. – 7:13 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers shot 52% and leading 33-24 after 1. All about stringing together stops and running.
Lillard played 10 of 12mins in 1Q. Doc Rivers hinted that he’s on a minutes restriction. – 7:07 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
And there is Lillard’s first drive to the rim, double pumped the lay-in and drew a foul. – 6:57 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Malik Beasley enters for Damian Lillard with 4:59 left in the first quarter.
Solid first seen minutes for Lillard. Five points, one assist for him in his first stint. – 6:47 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Damian LIllard gets his first bucket of the game on a stepback jumper to give the Bucks a 10-3 lead.
After a turnover out of the pick and roll, he gets another one on a jab step 3 from 27 feet. – 6:38 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Brook Lopez back on Myles Turner to start the game. Perhaps a consequence of Lillard’s return. It’s 4-3 Bucks so far. – 6:34 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Damian Lillard warmed up for the game about 2hrs before tipoff. He’s ready to go and in the starting lineup for the Bucks after sitting out the last two games with an Achilles injury.
Keys for the Pacers: Dictate pace, stay afloat in 2Q, get to FT line, up defensive pressure. – 6:16 PM

Frank Madden @fmaddenNBA
Whatever happens tonight, have to respect the way Dame showed up in these playoffs. Big-time performances in the first two games, then battles through knee and Achilles issues in game 3, and now comes back tonight only a few days after being in a walking boot. – 6:15 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Damian Lillard will play in must-win Game 6 for Bucks, Antetokounmpo remains out
nbcsports.com/nba/news/damia… – 6:10 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Dame is BACK
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/ERtHDeSg7L – 6:06 PM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Bucks’ Damian Lillard will return for Game 6 vs. Pacers, per reports, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is out cbssports.com/nba/news/bucks… – 5:35 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard is listed as available on the latest Bucks injury report. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Game 6 – 5:34 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Dame this postseason:
32.3 PPG (3rd in NBA)
5.3 APG
5.3 3PM (1st)
44.4 3P%
He’s back. statmuse.com/nba/player/dam… – 5:19 PM

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard (Achilles) will make his return tonight for Game 6 at Indiana, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/y9gIll1qqt – 5:18 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Here’s Lillard going through his pregame shooting routine on the floor before Game 6 pic.twitter.com/EOcuG08eTr – 5:17 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Here is some video of Damian Lillard warming up here in Indianapolis: pic.twitter.com/Yi7gjcyuKz – 5:07 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Doc Rivers says both Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are still both game-time decisions
He said “Giannis is more doubtful than Damian, but both had great workouts today” – 5:02 PM

Dustin Dopirak @DustinDopirak
Rivers says Lillard is out there doing his pre-game. Said he doesn’t know if either Lillard or Antetokounmpo will play yet but neither has been ruled out. – 5:01 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Per Doc Rivers, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are both game-time decisions. Giannis is “more doubtful”, Rivers says. – 5:01 PM

Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
Head Coach Doc Rivers tells reporters both Giannis and Dame are game time decisions but adds Giannis is more doubtful than Dame – 5:01 PM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Bucks’ Damian Lillard upgraded to questionable, Giannis Antetokounmpo still doubtful for Game 6 vs. Pacers cbssports.com/nba/news/bucks… – 4:10 PM

Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
Could Giannis and Dame be available for the Bucks in tonight’s Game 6 against Indy? @wojespn reports on their status on NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/QPupnftIJa – 3:44 PM

Dave Early @DavidEarly
Both Knicks or Sixers would be favorites against Indy. Not being able to close out Mil without Giannis and Dame playing is embarrassing. Tho Doc is obviously a top 3 coach when he has no stars. I’d love his fit in Wash. or Det. – 2:49 PM

Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
📈Damian Lillard upgraded to questionable to play for #Bucks vs. Pacers Thursday
latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo jsonline.com/story/sports/n… via ⁦@journalsentinel⁩ – 1:09 PM

Jamal Collier @JamalCollier
Damian Lillard has been upgraded to questionable on the latest injury report for Game 6. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still listed as doubtful – 12:42 PM

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) are both working to try and make a return vs. Indiana for Game 6 tonight, but still unclear if either will be able, sources tell ESPN. Bucks are trailing 3-2 in series. – 11:55 AM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
On this day 10 years ago, Dame Time CALLED GAME to win the series vs. Houston 🔥
(via @NBAHistory)
pic.twitter.com/o7fg4TaL0K – 11:22 AM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers try to advance in the playoffs for the first time in a decade – tonight v Bucks (6:30p ET)
– Dame, Giannis doubtful; Ty questionable
– TNT: Spero Dedes, Greg Anthony, Stephanie Ready
– Officials: Tony Brothers, Courtney Kirkland, Justin Van Duyne
– Gold t-shirt for fans – 10:59 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
With Heat ousted from playoffs, it’s hard not to wonder how Damian Lillard trade would’ve changed their season
(By @SamQuinnCBS)
cbssports.com/nba/news/with-… – 9:59 PM