Health issues hang over the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks, with all three teams trailing 2-1 in their first-round playoff series going into their respective Game 4s on Sunday.
Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns are mostly healthy but facing elimination after falling behind Minnesota 3-0. No NBA team has recovered from that deficit to win a series.
Stay updated with the latest from IPL 2024, including top contenders for the IPL 2024 Orange Cap and IPL 2024 Purple Cap. Explore the complete IPL 2024 Schedule, IPL 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours and Most Fifties in IPL 2024
Joel Embiid scored 50 points as the 76ers got their first victory against the New York Knicks in Game 3, but the reigning MVP played with a bulky brace on his surgically repaired left knee while revealing after the game he is dealing with lingering symptoms of Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis.
Kawhi Leonard acknowledged after the Clippers’ 101-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks that his balky right knee didn’t respond well coming out of Game 2, his first appearance in more than three weeks.
The Bucks are still waiting for the debut of Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf strain) in their series against Indiana, and star guard Damian Lillard aggravated an Achilles tendon injury after earlier dealing with a knee issue in a Game 3 loss in overtime to the Pacers.
Khris Middleton scored a playoff career-high 42 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left in regulation, after missing practice a day earlier with a sprained right ankle.
Lillard, who was clearly limping at times in Game 3, was in a walking boot Saturday and underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the Achilles damage.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Saturday it was “not looking good” for Lillard and that he doubted Antetokounmpo would be cleared to play following a pregame workout.
“We’re taking a lot of hits right now injury-wise, and our guys are hanging in there,” Rivers said after the Game 3 loss. “Dame goes out, we think he’s out, he comes back and says, ‘I don’t have much, but I’ll go.’ Khris, we didn’t think was playing. So proud of this team.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Associated Press)Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
