'You hate to see that happen': Pacers send love to Damian Lillard after heartbreaking injury
MILWAUKEE -- Point guards Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard have been jawing back and forth throughout the Pacers' series with the Bucks and things have been a little testy on the court between them since Haliburton used Lillard's Dame Time celebration in the Pacers' win over the Bucks in the In-Season Tournament semifinals in December of 2023.
However, Haliburton and the Pacers in general were still crushed to see Lillard go down in the first quarter of Sunday's Game 4 with a lower left leg injury feared to be an Achilles tendon tear that would not only end his season but cost him much of next season. Lillard had to be helped off the floor and did not return and he was seen after the game in the event level hallways of Fiserv Forum on crutches and a walking boot on his left foot. Haliburton, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and center Myles Turner each began their respective press conferences after the Pacers' 129-103 win by showing respect and admiration for Lillard.
It was especially crushing news after Lillard returned from deep vein thrombosis -- a condition in which blood clots form in veins -- earlier this series after he missed a month of action.
"Before any questions I just want to send my thoughts and prayers to Dame," Haliburton said. "What you see between us is competing. You hate to see that happen, especially to a guy who has gone through a lot and has given it his all to come out and play after scary health issues. It's well-documented the love I have for that guy. You hate to see that happen to anybody. I wish him the best."
Turner hasn't gone through as much of a direct back-and-forth with Lillard as they play different positions, but Turner said he still has a lot of admiration for Lillard.
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"I want to give my love and respect to Damian Lillard," Turner said. "I think it's a tragic thing that happened. This time of the year, I think everybody gets so caught up in all the antics and the playoff rivalry and all that type of stuff. At the end of the day, this league's a brotherhood, man. There's only 450 of us. He's always been one of my favorite competitors since I've been in this league. I know he has a rough road ahead. I just personally wanted to send that out there, just thoughts and prayers. You just never want to see anything like that happen no matter how competitive these playoffs get."
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has had to coach against Lillard more than either Haliburton or Turner have had to play against him as Carlisle's Mavericks had to go head-to-head frequently in the Western Conference before Carlisle came to Indiana in 2021 and Lillard was traded to the Bucks before the 2023-24 season. Lillard is a nine-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA pick and the fourth leading 3-point shooter in NBA history. Carlisle has called him a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and key part of the evolution of the game.
"I have such great respect for him competing all those years in the West and then the last couple of years," Carlisle said. "It's just very solemn news. Thoughts and prayers."
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