Damian Lillard injury: How long is the Portland Trail Blazers star expected to be out for? What happened to him?

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers were off to an impressive 4-0 start to the season entering Wednesday night’s game against the Miami Heat. Unfortunately, their early-season success took a bit of a detour. Not only did the Blazers suffer their first loss of the season by a 119-98 scoreline, they also lost Lillard to injury.

Damian Lillard left the game with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter due to a strained right calf. Lillard limped off the court and went straight to the locker room.

After the game, Lillard said that the injury did not require an MRI. However, he is currently unlikely to play during Friday night’s home game against the Houston Rockets. Following Friday’s game, Portland has a few days off before they will face the Memphis Grizzlies at home next Wednesday. So that also appears to be a factor in Lillard and the Blazers’ decision-making.

“Now I’ve just got to be smart, and make sure I’m getting a couple of treatment sessions in each day, and just try to stretch it,” Lillard said.

“So probably not going to be playing that game on Friday. That will give me six days of maybe two sessions some days, three session other days, and try to be ready for that one. We’ll see,” Lillard added.

Lillard finished Wednesday’s game with 22 points in 26 minutes. However, he has scored 30-plus points in the previous three games, including back-to-back games with 40-plus points. So for the season, Lillard is still averaging 31.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 49.5% shooting.

Overall, Damian Lillard is looking like his regular superstar self. This has alleviated most fans' concerns after he missed 53 games due to an abdominal injury last season.

Lillard spoke about his rejuvenation this season and highlighted the fact that he will be patient to ensure he doesn’t lose it.

“It’s early. We’ve gotten off to a good start. Things feel good. I haven’t felt this good since my second or third year.

“Everything that I did this summer is just adding up. I feel fast, I feel strong. I don’t get tired. And I don’t want to lose that. So I’ve got to be patient and I can’t get ahead of myself,” Lillard said.

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Damian Lillard not concerned about his injury, would have kept playing if it was the playoffs

Portland Trail Blazers superstar guard Damian Lillard

Throughout his postgame press conference, Damian Lillard made sure to reiterate that he was not worried about his injury. Lillard even stated that he would have kept playing if it was the playoffs. However, he said it just doesn’t make sense to push himself too hard early on in the season.

"It wasn't nothing that I was overly concerned with. I just know that it wouldn't make sense to try and push through it in the fifth game of the season," Lillard said.

"Honestly, if this was a playoff game, I would have played. It would have been tight and uncomfortable, but I would have played. If that gives you any indication of how concerned I am now or would have been," He added.