Bucks Zone

Damian Lillard sits out vs. Suns as injury woes hit the Milwaukee Bucks

Dame sat out only for the fourth time in the season.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Damian Lillard was in civilian clothes when the Milwaukee Bucks bowed to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, 106-114. Dame sat out with a sprained left ankle, an injury that already hounded him during the Bucks' 108-123 defeat to the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

It was only the fourth time this season that Lillard missed a game. In the 47 games that he played, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He is shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.7% from the three-point range.

Short-handed lineup

Milwaukee came into the contest already without Brook Lopez (personal seasons), and with Dame failing to suit up, the Bucks' roster was further decimated when Khris Middleton sprained his ankle after stepping on Kevin Durant's foot while attempting a jumper late in the first quarter.

Khris scored six points in just eight minutes of play.

Unproductive road trip

Coach Doc Rivers said the premature exit of Khris compounded their woes after not having Brook and Dame. Doc said the Bucks simply didn't have the offensive firepower without the trio on the floor.

"It's a tough blow. Having him (Middleton) and Dame and Brook up, takes a lot off the floor. I thought we fought, hung in there. You knew at some point, you just felt at some point we wouldn't have enough offense on the floor, and that's what probably happened tonight," said Rivers.

With the loss, the Bucks dropped to 1-4 under Rivers. Milwaukee ended the five-game road trip with just one win. The unproductive road trip that saw them lose their last two games pulled the Bucks down to third place in the Eastern Conference as they fell to 33-18 in the season. 

The short-handed Milwaukee Bucks end road trip with a loss to the Phoenix Suns

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.