Lillard has been out since March 18 with a blood clot in his right calf and missed the Bucks' 117-98 loss to Indiana in Game 1. The Bucks listed him as questionable due to return to competition reconditioning.

Lillard participated in his first full practice Thursday after being cleared of deep vein thrombosis and stopping blood-thinning medication. Deep vein thrombosis is an abnormal clot within a vessel where the congealing of blood blocks the flow through on the way back to the heart.

Doctors have told Bucks officials that the speed of Lillard's recovery has never been seen before, but it occurred because of early treatment, detection and specialists working on him before a formal diagnosis, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Lillard began blood-thinning medication well before the March 25 diagnosis of the blood clot.

A nine-time NBA All-Star, Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists in 58 games this season. He averaged 31.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds during the playoffs for the Bucks last season.

It can happen at any time, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened tomorrow,” Haliburton said. “So we’ve got to be prepared for whatever that is, understanding that in the playoffs, it ain’t about individual performances, it’s about winning.

Damian Lillard cleared of deep vein thrombosis, ramps up return

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has been cleared of the deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, the team announced Thursday. Lillard is out for Game 1 vs. the Pacers, but will have a period to resume contact workouts and gear up for his return.

Additionally, Lillard has been taken off blood-thinning medications that were being used to treat his DVT.

“We’re thrilled for Dame,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “Our priority has always been Dame’s health. We’re grateful to our medical team for diagnosing and treating his DVT at an early stage, and for the world-renown hematology specialists at Mayo Clinic.

“Every step of Dame’s recovery has been at the direction of world-class medical professionals and their specific and strict protocols that have allowed for Dame’s safe and healthy return to play.”

Per the team, Lillard will continue to increase his on-court basketball activity as he ramps up to return to play.

Khris Middleton missed an entire seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal loss to Boston in 2022 with a sprained medial collateral ligament. Giannis Antetokounmpo bruised his lower back in Milwaukee’s first playoff game in 2023 and didn’t return until Game 4 of a first-round series it lost 4-1 to the Miami Heat. In the Bucks’ 4-2 first-round loss to Indiana last year, Antetokounmpo didn’t play at all because of a calf strain and Lillard missed two games with an Achilles injury.