“Lillard does not plan to play this season,” reported the Associated Press, as the Portland Trail Blazers prepare for a crucial Play-In game against the Phoenix Suns on April 14, 2026. This announcement marks a pivotal moment for the Blazers, who will face the Suns without their star player for the first time since 2021.
Damian Lillard has officially been listed as out for the game due to ongoing management of a left Achilles injury. This injury has plagued him since he tore his Achilles during Milwaukee’s first-round series against Indiana in late April 2025. Following surgery in early May 2025, Lillard’s recovery has been closely monitored, and he is not expected to return this postseason, with a target set for the 2026-27 season.
The absence of Lillard is particularly significant as the Blazers aim to secure a spot in the playoffs. The winner of the upcoming game will clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, a crucial position that could define their postseason journey. The current rotation can do without Dame, not about a surprise late rescue, indicating that the team has had to adapt to his absence.
While Lillard participated in and won the NBA 3-Point Contest during the All-Star Weekend, his participation was a fleeting glimpse of his talent as he has been sidelined for the majority of the season. Reports from October indicated that Lillard did not plan to play this season, and Portland expected him to be sidelined for the entire 2025-26 campaign. The team has had to adjust its strategy and roster dynamics significantly in light of his injury.
As the Blazers prepare for the game, they will rely on players like Jerami Grant, who averaged 18.6 points per game during the regular season, to step up in Lillard’s absence. Grant has shown resilience, despite missing seven games due to injury himself, and will be a key player in the upcoming matchup.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding Lillard’s potential return for any postseason games beyond the current injury report. The safer expectation is that his real comeback target remains 2026-27, not this postseason run. The Trail Blazers and their fans are left hoping for a swift recovery, but the focus now shifts to the immediate challenge against the Suns.
As the Blazers face this critical moment in their season, the community rallies behind the team, hoping to see them rise to the occasion despite the absence of their beloved star. The spirit of Portland basketball remains strong, and the team is determined to make a mark in the postseason, even without their leader.
