Yahoo Finance Damian Lillard to miss Game 5 against the Lakers due to knee injury
If the Portland Trail Blazers are going to keep their championship hopes alive, they’ll have to do it without their star. Damian Lillard will miss Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a knee injury, the team announced Tuesday.
Lillard, 30, suffered the injury during the team’s 135-115 loss to the Lakers on Monday. Lillard jumped up for a shot and landed awkwardly on his right leg. Following the injury, Lillard went to the locker room to have his knee examined. He was able to return for a few series, but eventually left the game again.
Lillard underwent an MRI on Monday, but the results came back inconclusive. Lillard had another MRI on Tuesday, which revealed a right knee sprain.
Portland is fighting to stay alive in the playoffs
Monday’s win gave the Lakers a 3-1 lead in the series, putting Portland a loss away from being eliminated. While the Trail Blazers came into the series as an underdog, Lillard gave the team hope. He played a major role in the Trail Blazers’ Game 1 win over the Lakers, dropping 34 points and hitting some clutch shots in the fourth quarter. Lillard also scored 34 points in the team’s 116-108 loss in Game 3.
The Trail Blazers will take on the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday.
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