{"id":713342,"date":"2026-04-18T17:36:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713342\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T17:36:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:36:39","slug":"will-damian-lillard-return-in-the-nba-playoffs-against-the-spurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/713342\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Damian Lillard Return in the NBA Playoffs Against the Spurs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Portland\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Damian Lillard has been out with a torn left Achilles tendon since last year. He sustained the injury during last season\u2019s playoffs while still playing for the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year, he is back with the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a>, the same squad he led to numerous playoff wins early in his career, but only as a supporter on the sidelines while he recovers from his injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, Lillard will continue to watch the game on the bench in the playoffs, shutting down any chance of the 35-year-old star\u2019s return to the court in the postseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDame is questionable. No, I\u2019m kidding,\u201d Splitter told reporters. \u201cHis head is on the next season. We\u2019ve got to be serious about it. Of course, we joke around here and there, but he has a plan, and we all have to follow that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trail Blazers are respecting Damian Lillard\u2019s decision to return in the 2026-27 season. Dont expect him to suit up against the Spurs #RipCity<\/a> @KATUNews<\/a> <\/p>\n

Lillard was last seen on the court during the All-Star weekend\u2019s 3-point contest, where he won for the third time, while recovering from the injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lillard returned to Portland, the team that drafted him as the No. 6 pick in the 2012 draft, last July, signing a three-year $42 million contract despite still nursing the injury. The deal had a no-trade clause and a player option in the 2027-2028 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was a bargain deal for the Trail Blazers after Lillard was waived by the Bucks following their first-round exit against the Indiana Pacers<\/a> last year. The Bucks will continue to pay Lillard his remaining $113 million contract over five years since he was released by the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lillard spent two years with Milwaukee, becoming the secondary star after Giannis Antetokounmpo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lillard\u2019s signing was initially seen as a mentorship for the Blazers\u2019 young core led by the likes of Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara. The team also has veterans such as Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, and Robert Williams, all of whom played in pressure-packed playoff games before.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the young core has since given the Trail Blazers success this season, taking down the Phoenix Suns<\/a> in the play-in tournament to secure the No. 7 seed in the West and book a series against the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why Damian Lillard Returned to Portland?\"Portland<\/p>\n

Getty<\/p>\n

Damian Lillard said his return to Portland was a no-brainer decision, as his move made him closer to home and his family.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt never felt right, not being home,\u201d Lillard said. \u201cWhen I have to make a decision, a lot of thought goes into it. This decision wasn\u2019t hard at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last time the Trail Blazers were in the playoffs was in the 2020-2021 NBA season, losing to the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in the first round led by Lillard and CJ McCollum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year, the team will be led by Avdija, who had 41 points against the Suns in the play-in game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, they have a tall task against the Spurs, whose squad is led by Victor Wembanyama.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Blazers-Spurs Schedule\"Portland<\/p>\n

GettyThe San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers battle in Round 1.<\/p>\n

Game 1 of the Blazers-Spurs series will happen on Sunday, April 19, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time in San Antonio.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Game 2 will be on Tuesday, April 21, before Game 3 in Portland on Friday, April 24. Game 4 will then tip off on Sunday, April 26.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The series opener will be the Spurs\u2019 first playoff game in seven years, last playing in the postseason in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRob Andrew Lo<\/a> Rob Andrew Lo is a writer at Heavy Sports and is covering the NBA. He has covered local, collegiate, professional and international sports in various sites. He was the sports editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas, and a sports, entertainment, and lifestyle writer for Rappler.
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\nA Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he has built his voice across both collegiate and international platforms, previously contributing NBA coverage to Fansided and Sportskeeda.
\n More about Rob Andrew Lo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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