Damian Lillard Returns From Achilles Injury in Trail Blazers’ Preseason Win

Lillard’s Return to the Hardwood

Nineteen minutes. That was the extent of Damian Lillard’s workload on Tuesday night, but for a 36-year-old guard returning from a ruptured left Achilles tendon, it represented a full-scale comeback. Lillard scored 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 123-118 preseason victory over the Golden State Warriors, his first competitive action since April 2025. The nine-time All-Star, who was selected sixth overall by Portland in the 2012 NBA draft, spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the franchise before returning this July on a three-year, $42 million deal.

The performance offered a glimpse into a revamped Portland rotation. Lillard, who rejoined the organization in July 2025 on a three-year, $42 million deal, looked to shake off the rust from a final Milwaukee season plagued by deep vein thrombosis and a playoff-ending injury against Indiana. In that final Bucks campaign, he averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists over 58 games. Reflecting on his long road back, Lillard noted that after hearing pundits claim his injury would end his career, he was motivated to “fight the fight every time.” On his return to the Moda Center, he simply remarked, Back home.

A New Backcourt Partnership

The preseason opener marked the debut of the Lillard-Ja Morant tandem. Morant, a marquee offseason acquisition, chipped in eight points and five assists. Lillard believes the presence of multiple ball-handlers will yield more offensive opportunities for the entire roster.

Organizational Overhaul in Portland

Despite the instability, the backcourt is deeper than it has been in years. With Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday joining the rotation, Lillard is clear about his personal limitations. He has no intention of logging the heavy, high-usage minutes of his youth, opting instead to lean on the team’s depth to manage his workload throughout the regular season.

Highlights of the Game

The game itself was a high-scoring affair. While Golden State shot an efficient 55.9% from three-point range, they could not overcome Portland’s balanced attack. Deni Avdija paced the Blazers with 23 points. For the Warriors, Miles Kelly provided a major spark off the bench, recording 24 points, seven rebounds, and six assists on 8-16 shooting. Charles Bassey also impressed with 13 points and three blocks, while Brandon Williams contributed 17 points in just 18 minutes of play.

Head coach Micah Nori has publicly targeted a top-four seed in the Western Conference.

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