Damian Lillard returns to playoffs with Milwaukee Bucks as No. 3 seed in Eastern Conference

Damian Lillard is returning to the NBA playoffs after a two-year absence.

Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks ended the season with the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs after losing 113-88 at the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

The New York Knicks (50-32) took advantage of the Bucks’ loss by capturing the No. 2 seed after defeating the Chicago Bulls (39-43), 120-119 in overtime.

The former Portland Trail Blazers’ star, who has been dealing with adductor soreness, scored 16 points on 2-of-14 shooting against the Magic. He went 0 of 4 from three-point range but made 12 of 13 free throws.

The Bucks were without All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has missed three games with a lower leg strain. His status for the start of the playoffs is in doubt.

The Bucks will face the No. 6-seeded Indiana Pacers (47-35) starting April 21 in Milwaukee.

Lillard said he expects to be ready to go by then.

“It won’t be perfect but I don’t think anybody is,” Lillard told reporters. “But the week, just being able to get everything together, get the rest, and getting our minds right, it will be good for us.”

This will be Lillard’s first appearance in the postseason since leading the Blazers into the 2021 playoffs where they fell in the first round, 4-2 to the Denver Nuggets.

The Pacers, who went 4-1 against the Bucks this season, will present a tough challenge. But Lillard said he feels good about the matchup.

“I think the one thing about the playoffs, especially this season, everybody can beat everybody,” Lillard said. “That’s really how I feel about it. Happy we have home court. It’s a team that we’re familiar with. We know that they like to play fast. They score a lot of points.”

The Pacers led the NBA with 122.9 points per game while the Bucks finished fourth at 119.4.

“We just got to know what their strengths are, which we know well, and we’ve got to take as many of those things away and make it a tougher game for them,” Lillard said.

— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)

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