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Damian Lillard Relieved to Be Back in NBA Playoffs and Not at Coachella

Tim Capurso|
Apr 21, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) warms up before Game 1 of their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
Apr 21, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) warms up before Game 1 of their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. | Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers

NBA Playoffs or Coachella?

For Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard, the answer is simple. Lillard, who set a Bucks playoff record with 35 first-half points to help lead Milwaukee to a 109-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the first-round series on Sunday, is back in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season.

And Lillard, 33, is relieved that postseason basketball is on his summer to-do list rather than attending Coachella, the annual music and arts festival held in Indio, Calif.

Speaking to reporters after the Bucks' win, Lillard admitted that his two-year hiatus from postseason action "sucked."

"The last two years not being in the playoffs, it sucked," Lillard said. "Early vacations. Last year, I went to Coachella. I ain't never been able to go to Coachella."

Lillard then spoke about how it feels to be competing for an NBA championship again.

"Just having that long summer, I was over that," Lillard said. "Being able to be in a playoff series on a championship team, championship organization, knowing that we got an opportunity for it, that was the thing I was looking forward to most."

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is usually held in mid-April. Lillard, who was dealt to Milwaukee in October, was free in mid-April in each of the last two seasons after the Portland Trail Blazers missed the postseason.

While he surely had a good time at Coachella last year, competing for the elusive NBA title takes the cake every time.

Lillard and the Bucks will be back in action for Game 2 on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated, primarily covering MLB, college football and college basketball. Before joining SI in November 2023, Capurso worked at RotoBaller and ClutchPoints and is a graduate of Assumption University. When he's not working, he can be found at the gym, reading a book or enjoying a good hike. A resident of New York, Capurso openly wonders if the Giants will ever be a winning football team again.

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