Damian Lillard lamented the Milwaukee Bucks’ injury troubles after their playoff exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. ()
Th♉e Bucks lost the series 4-2 after suffering a heavy 120-98 defeat in Game 6 on Thursday, condemn🐎ing them to their second consecutive first-round exit to a lower seed.
Two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo was one of the key players missing forꦛ the Bucks as he missed the entire playoff series due to a left calf strain, while Lillard returned after missing the last two games with an Achilles injury.
Lillard, who finished with 28 points, admitted it was 𝐆frustrating to have so many injuries, but he wanted to try to make an♑ impact.
"I don't think I would've went into the summer feeling good about much if I 𝓰felt like I let the team go out there and me not at least try," he said.
"It's definitely disappointing because you kno🎀w how much better of a team we are when he's [Antetokounmpo] on the floor and how much things change🍃 when he's on the floor.
"You play an entওire 82-game season. You go through training camp, you go through all the ups and downs of an NBA regular season, and you get to the point where, all right, now we're going to play for everything. And you're not whole.
"You don't have the best opportunity to reach where you want reach. So it is frustrating, it's disappointing, but it's par🎐t of the game."
Meanwhile, ꩵT.J. McConnell says he is proud to be part of the Pacers team that ended their long wait to reওach the semifinals.
McConnell ha🌠d 20 points and nine assists off the bench, while Obi Toppin finished with a playoff career-high 21 points for the Pacers, who had lost their last six playoff series since 2014.
McConnell said: "It means a lot. Not getting into thꦍe playoffs sinceꦅ the bubble, not being able to advance since 2014, we take great pride in being able to advance and extend our season.
"Milwaukee has a great team and, if I can be honest with you, I t🌄hink our bench has taken a couple steps back competitive wise ꦉand I think tonight all of us went out there with the mentality we’re going to take it to another level."
The Pacer𝔍s will face New York in the next round after the Knicks elim🌱inated the Philadelphia 76ers.
