Is Damian Lillard (Hip) Playing Tonight Against Thunder?

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (hip) has been downgraded to out for Friday evening’s highway sport in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) additionally stays out indefinitely.

Brook Lopez (doable relaxation), Khris Middleton (doable relaxation), Bobby Portis (doable relaxation), and Marjon Beauchamp (ankle) have been all upgraded to possible. A.J. Inexperienced (ankle) and Jaylin Galloway (ankle) are out as properly.

Earlier this 12 months, NBA sportsbooks listed Damian Lillard because the odds-on favourite to win NBA Clutch Participant of the Yr. Sportsbooks now present DeMar DeRozan because the front-runner.

Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis can be found vs OKC tonight.

Damian Lillard is OUT.

Giannis stays out.

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) April 12, 2024

Via 72 video games (all begins) this season, Lillard is averaging 24.4 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 35.4 minutes per sport. He’s additionally taking pictures 42.7% from the ground, 35.6% from 3-point vary, and 92% on the foul line.

Moreover, the eight-time All-Star ranks fifteenth within the league this season in factors (1,759), ninth in assists (506), twelfth in 3-pointers (220), and fifth in free throws (461).

Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard (hip) is out for Friday’s highway sport in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

Furthermore, Lillard turned the primary Bucks participant to report at the very least 40 factors, 10 assists, and 5 3-pointers in a single sport, in a 141-135 win over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 20. It was his second profession 40-point sport in a Bucks uniform.

Lillard, 33, ended his outing with a season-high 45 factors, six rebounds, 11 assists, and one steal in 37 minutes of motion. The seven-time All-NBA member shot 12-of-22 (54.5%) from the sphere and 5-of-11 (45.5%) from past the arc. In actual fact, he made all 11 free throws as properly.

Though Milwaukee has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the No. 3 New York Knicks (48-32), the Bucks ought to nonetheless attempt to win their ultimate two video games on the Thunder (55-25) and Orlando Magic (46-34) to assist clinch the No. 2 seed.

Up to date West Standings ‼️

– Dubs win and bounce to #9
– Pels win and are 1 sport up on #7 Suns

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📲 https://t.co/oRfhdB8ZfO pic.twitter.com/8X72ZMjWUH

— NBA (@NBA) April 12, 2024

The Knicks pulled inside a sport for second on Thursday evening and will safe the No. 2 spot in the event that they win out and Milwaukee loses each of its ultimate video games. New York hosts the Brooklyn Nets (32-48) on Friday and the Chicago Bulls (38-42) on Sunday.

Nonetheless, NBA sportsbooks present the Bucks as heavy 14-point underdogs at OKC. Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, the Thunder maintain an 86.2% probability of defeating Milwaukee.

Referring to a few NBA betting sites, the Bucks maintain fourth-shortest odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are displaying higher odds for the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Clippers.