Blazers Tease Potential Damian Lillard Return Ahead of Game 3 vs. Spurs
The Portland Trail Blazers flipped the script Tuesday night, grinding out a 106–103 comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 to even their first-round playoff series at 1–1.
It was a gutsy, momentum-swinging performance fueled by a late defensive stand and a breakout 31-point night from Scoot Henderson that instantly shifted the tone of the matchup.
But less than 24 hours later, Portland again made headlines.
On Wednesday, the Blazers posted a cryptic video of franchise icon Damian Lillard getting shots up. No caption, no timeline, just enough to send fans into a frenzy.
In a series suddenly wide open, the mere hint of a Lillard return carries massive implications.
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Lillard is recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon suffered almost exactly one year ago during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
He underwent surgery shortly after, with the expectation that he would miss the entire 2025–26 NBA season. Still, less than three months after the injury, Lillard committed to a three-year, $42 million deal to return to Portland.
Historically, Achilles recoveries for NBA players take roughly 10–12 months at minimum, and often longer before a player regains full form.
Recent reporting indicates the Trail Blazers have been targeting the 2026–27 season, not this current playoff run, for Lillard's full return.
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Coming off a 36–46 record a year ago, Portland wasn't supposed to be here, not without Damian Lillard.
Yet, the Trail Blazers have leaned on youth, pace, and opportunistic scoring to stay competitive, delivering their highest win total since 2020–21, when Lillard was still with the franchise.
Key contributors like Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson have stepped up in his absence, but a fully healthy Lillard instantly raises the ceiling from "pesky underdog" to legitimate threat.
That's what makes the timing of this post so intriguing.
Game 3 shifts to Portland on Friday with the series tied, while the San Antonio Spurs are dealing with uncertainty surrounding Victor Wembanyama, who remains in concussion protocol after exiting Game 2.
Still, there's an important distinction: returning to basketball activity (getting shots up, light workouts) is not the same as being cleared for playoff-level competition.
The video signals progress, not availability. As of now, there's been no official indication that Lillard is close to returning to game action, let alone handling the intensity of a playoff series.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 1:56 PM.